Sucrose conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over commercial ion-exchange resin

Abstract

The study focuses on the production of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from sucrose using water as a solvent and various ion-exchange resin catalysts in a stainless steel batch reactor. The research demonstrates that the choice of catalyst significantly impacts the yield of HMF, with CT-251 catalyst exhibiting the highest acidity and achieving a peak HMF yield of 24.59 % at 150 °C for 150 min with a catalyst load of 0.11 g catalyst/g sucrose. Furthermore, the study highlights the stable reusability of the catalyst over four cycles, maintaining a relatively constant HMF yield of approximately 22 %. The results indicate complete sucrose conversion, with all fructose and some glucose converted into HMF. Additionally, the study notes that prolonged reaction times lead to the rehydration of HMF, resulting in the production of valuable levulinic acid (LA). The research also suggests the need for further efforts to improve glucose isomerization in order to enhance HMF selectivity. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into catalyst selection for efficient HMF production from renewable biomass sources. The results emphasize the importance of balancing catalyst acidity and reaction conditions to maximize HMF yield and minimize undesired side reactions, contributing to the development of sustainable biomass conversion technologies.