A modified biphasic system for the dehydration of d-xylose into furfural using SO42−/TiO2-ZrO2/La3+ as a solid catalyst

• A modified biphasic system was applied for producing furfural from xylose.
• 3563.3 μmol/g of furfural yield with 97.9% xylose conversion was obtained.
• The optimum biphasic system (water:DMI/MIBK:2-butanol, 8:2/7:3) was obtained.

One of the most promising strategies for furfural production is to extract continually the target product from the aqueous solution utilizing organic solvents. With the aim to develop an ecologically viable catalytic pathway for furfural production without the addition of mineral acids, we presented a modified biphasic system using a solid acid (SO42−/TiO2-ZrO2/La3+) as catalyst for producing furfural from xylose. Different kinds of aprotic organic solvents (DMSO, DMF and DMI) in water phase and 2-butanol in organic phase (MIBK) were investigated as reaction media. Furfural yield and xylose conversion efficiency were dependent on the amounts of aprotic organic solvents and 2-butanol, the solid/liquid ratio, and the volume ratio of the organic phase and the aqueous phase as well as the reaction temperature and time. As a result, DMI showed the best performance on improving furfural yield during the furfural production. 3563.3 μmol of furfural/g of xylose with 97.9% xylose conversion efficiency was obtained after 12 h at 180 °C when the volume ratios of water to DMI and MIBK to 2-butanol were 8:2 and 7:3, respectively.

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