Production of furans from rice straw by single-phase and biphasic systems

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural, both of which can be derived from renewable sources, are key components for the production of different chemicals and fuels. In this study, rice straw, a cheap, abundant, and mainly unused agricultural waste, is converted to furans by a dilute acid hydrolysis process. The highest yield of HMF in a single-phase hydrolysis was 15.3 g/kg straw, attained at 180°C during 3 h with 0.5% sulfuric acid, while the maximum yield of furfural, 59 g/kg straw, was obtained at 150°C during 5 h. Different extracting solvents, including 2-PrOH, 1-BuOH, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), and acetone at 180°C for 3 h as well as tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 150°C for 5 h were examined in biphasic systems. Use of the solvents generally improved the production of HMF compared to the single aqueous phase process. The best results of HMF production, more than 59 g/kg straw, were obtained in the systems containing either 2-PrOH or 1-BuOH. Using THF as an extracting solvent, a relatively high furfural yield, 118.2 g/kg straw, was obtained, and 96% of furfural produced in this system was extracted into THF during the process.