Preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from cellulose catalyzed by silicon-based composite solid acids

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Materials Science
• Biomass Conversion

Background:

• Solid acid catalysts are crucial for efficient cellulose conversion.
• Developing catalysts with dual acid sites (Lewis and Brønsted) can enhance reaction efficiency.
• 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a key platform chemical derived from biomass.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare a novel silica-based solid acid catalyst with dual Lewis and Brønsted acid sites.
• To improve the efficiency of cellulose conversion to HMF using the developed catalyst.
• To investigate the catalytic performance of the composite solid acid catalyst.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of silica (SiO2) microspheres via reverse microemulsion.
• Surface modification of SiO2 with -SO3H and -NH2 groups.
• Loading of Cr3+ onto modified SiO2 to form the Cr-SiO2-SO3H composite catalyst.
• Characterization and catalytic performance evaluation in a two-phase system ([BMIM]Cl/THF) using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).

Main Results:

• The Cr-SiO2-SO3H catalyst exhibited dual acid sites (Lewis and Brønsted).
• Under optimal conditions (160°C, 4h, 1g/g catalyst, 1:3 [BMIM]Cl:THF ratio), a maximum HMF yield of 54.8% was achieved.
• The HMF yield was significantly higher (1.49x and 1.34x) compared to SiO2-SO3H and Cr-SiO2 catalysts, respectively.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized Cr-SiO2-SO3H composite solid acid catalyst effectively catalyzes the conversion of cellulose to HMF.
• The dual acid sites and composite structure contribute to enhanced catalytic activity and HMF yield.
• This catalyst presents a promising approach for efficient biomass-derived chemical production.