Nanocoating of magnetic cores with sulfonic acid functionalized shells for the catalytic dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

A magnetically recyclable acid catalyst composed of an Fe3O4 core and sulfonic acid functionalized silica shell has been prepared using the reverse microemulsion method. The Fe3O4 core was coated with a phenyl modified silica shell nanolayer, and the phenyl groups were subsequently sulfonated to generate a solid sulfonic acid catalyst. The resulting acid catalyst showed higher activity than the conventional A-15 catalyst and comparable activity to several homogeneous sulfonic acid catalysts for the dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). This process gave a fructose conversion of 99% with an HMF yield of 82% following 3 h in dimethylsulfoxide at 110 °C. Furthermore, the catalyst could be magnetically separated and recycled several times without losing its activity.

Graphical AbstractA magnetically recyclable acid catalyst consisting of an Fe3O4 core and a thin sulfonic acid functionalized silica shell has been prepared using a reverse microemulsion method and subsequently used for the dehydration of in fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). This process gave a fructose conversion of approximately 99% and an 82% yield of HMF after 3 h in DMSO at 110 °C.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide