Selective dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural catalyzed by mesoporous SBA-15-SO3H in ionic liquid BmimCl

Mesoporous SBA-15 materials functionalized with propylsulfonic acid groups (SBA-15-SO3H) were synthesized through a conventional one-pot route. It was used as a catalyst for the selective synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from the dehydration of fructose using BmimCl as solvent. Reaction time, temperature and fructose concentration were investigated during the HMF synthesis procedure. The catalyst SBA-15-SO3H exhibits high fructose conversion (near 100%) and HMF selectivity (about 81%) with good stability in the HMF synthesis. It was a suitable catalyst to produce HMF from renewable carbohydrates in potential industrial process.

Propylsulfonic acid functionalized SBA-15 catalysts were used to prepare 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) using BmimCl as solvent. This made the simple SBA-15-SO3H-BmimCl system a promising choice for fructose dehydration.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► SBA-15-SO3H was an environmentally benign solid catalyst for the dehydration of fructose.
► The catalyst was tolerant to high concentration feedstock and can be reused.
► High HMF selectivity of 81.0% with above 97% fructose conversion was obtained.
► The separation of HMF was successfully achieved in a THF/BmimCl biphasic system.