Synergistic Cr–Co metal oxide catalysis on molecular sieve support for cascade one-pot conversion of biomass derived cellulose to FDCA

Abstract

2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is an essential precursor compound for the synthesis of polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a biobased polymer offering a more sustainable alternative to its analog polyethylene terephthalate (PET), based on petroleum derived terephthalic acid (TPA). This study explores the one-pot synthesis of FDCA from agro-waste bagasse residue through the dehydration of C6 sugars to HMF and its subsequent oxidation, for which a heterogeneous metal oxide catalyst is employed. Catalysts based on Co, Cr or their combination supported on molecular sieves 5A were investigated for efficiency and selectivity in biomass conversion. Advanced characterization techniques including XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET, TPD, TPR, and XPS provide insights into their structural features and chemical properties that contribute to the catalytic activity. The incorporation of Co and Cr metal oxides into the zeolite framework not only enhances the catalytic activity but also ensures the availability of pores resulting in a maximum yield of 61.74 % FDCA. Even with the use of this real waste stream, the Cr–Co zeolite catalyst exhibited outstanding regeneration and reusability, retaining 99.95 % of its catalytic activity over five reaction cycles. This study presents a sustainable and cost-effective approach, emphasizing the potential of one-pot conversion of agro-waste to value-added chemical.