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Furfural and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Production from Sugar Mixture Using Deep Eutectic Solvent/MIBK System
Annu Rusanen1, Katja Lappalainen1, Johanna Kärkkäinen1
1Research Unit of Sustainable Chemistry, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, FIN-90014, Oulu, Finland.
Chemistryopen
|October 7, 2021
Summary
Choline chloride/glycolic acid deep eutectic solvents efficiently produce furfural from biomass. High water content and microwave heating optimize yields, enabling DES recycling for sustainable biorefining.
Area of Science:
- Green Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Biomass Conversion and Biorefining
- Renewable Energy and Sustainable Materials
Background:
- Traditional methods for furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) production often require harsh conditions or additional catalysts.
- Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) offer a promising alternative due to their tunable properties and environmental benefits.
- Choline chloride (ChCl) and glycolic acid (GA) form a DES that can be utilized for biomass valorization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the production of furfural and HMF using a ChCl/GA DES with high water content.
- To optimize reaction conditions (water content, temperature, time) for different feedstocks (glucose/xylose mixture, birch sawdust).
- To evaluate the potential of this DES system within a biorefinery concept and assess DES recyclability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Choline chloride (ChCl) / glycolic acid (GA) deep eutectic solvent (DES) with varying water content.
- Employed a microwave reactor for efficient heating and reaction.
- Investigated glucose/xylose mixtures and birch sawdust as feedstocks, optimizing temperature and time for each.
- Analyzed solid residue composition and performed product extraction into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) for DES recycling.
Main Results:
- Optimal water content (32.9 wt.%) enhanced conversions without destabilizing the DES structure.
- Achieved high furfural yields: 62% from the sugar mixture and 37.5% from birch sawdust under optimized conditions (160-170°C, 10 min).
- Low HMF yields were observed, but the solid residue from sawdust was rich in cellulose and lignin, suggesting potential for further biorefinery applications.
- Product extraction facilitated efficient DES recycling, maintaining high yields over three cycles.
Conclusions:
- ChCl/GA DES with high water content is effective for furfural production from both model sugars and lignocellulosic biomass.
- The process is suitable for microwave-assisted reactions and can be integrated into a biorefinery framework.
- The recyclability of the DES further enhances the economic and environmental viability of this biomass conversion strategy.
