Heterogeneous selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) into 2,5-diformylfuran catalyzed by vanadium supported activated carbon in MIBK, extracting solvent for HMF

•V2O5 supported on activated carbon was synthesized by in-situ oxidation of V3 +.•V2O5/AC was characterized by TEM, SEM–EDX, ICP, PXRD, and XPS analyses.•Effects of various reaction parameters on the oxidation of HMF into DFF were studied.•95% conversion with > 96% selectivity was achieved using V2O5/AC in MIBK solvent.•This heterogeneous V2O5/AC catalyst could be used 4 times with similar activity.

Heterogeneous selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) into 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) using molecular oxygen and vanadium catalyst onto activated carbon in MIBK, extracting solvent for HMF, is described. Highly stable V2O5 supported on activated carbon catalyst was synthesized using V3 + (VCl3) precursor and confirmed by XPS analysis, which found to be highly active. A maximum HMF conversion of > 95% with > 96% DFF selectivity was achieved and this heterogeneous catalyst could be used 4 times without any significant loss of activity.