Fructose dehydration to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over sulfated TiO2-SiO2, Ti-SBA-15, ZrO2, SiO2, and activated carbon catalysts

Abstract

Different sulfated catalysts including SO4/TiO2-SiO2, SO4/Ti-SBA-15, SO4/ZrO2, SO4/AC, and SO4/SiO2 were tested in fructose dehydration to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Reactions were carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 110 °C. Characterization results indicated that no sulfur leaching was observed from SO4/ZrO2, SO4/TiO2-SiO2, and SO4/Ti-SBA-15 catalysts in the reaction tests. The SO4/TiO2-SiO2 catalyst had a high amount of strong acid sites and the highest amount of Bronsted sites. The highest selectivity to HMF at high conversion, that is, 89% selectivity at 77% fructose conversion was obtained over this catalyst. It preserved its activity after four times reuse.Activated carbonCarbonCatalystsDehydration