Aqueous phase reactions of pentoses in the presence of nanocrystalline zeolite beta: Identification of by-products and kinetic modelling

Furfural, a valuable platform chemical that has the potential to replace a variety of oil/coal/gas derived materials and chemical products, is produced by the dehydration of d-xylose, which in turn is obtained from lignocellulosic biomass. Herein, the conversion of xylose in the presence of nanocrystalline zeolite beta in the H+-form, using water as solvent, was investigated. Detailed batch kinetic studies and products identifications techniques (1H, 13C NMR and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ToFMS)) provided mechanistic insights into the overall reaction process. The conversion of xylose to furfural is accompanied by several side reactions, forming complex reaction mixtures. A pseudo-homogeneous kinetic model was proposed that fitted quite well the experimental data.

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• Mechanistic insights into the reaction of xylose in the presence of zeolite beta.
• Pentoses xylulose and lyxose, identified by NMR spectroscopy, are intermediates.
• Identification of by-products by comprehensive SPME/GC × GC–ToFMS analyses.
• Pseudo-homogeneous kinetic model fitted well the experimental data.