Highly Efficient Conversion of Fructose to Furan Compounds in Ethanol Using Sulfonated Polymers with Solvent Moieties...

Area of Science:

• Catalysis
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomass Conversion

Background:

• Fructose dehydration to 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF) is key for low-carbon chemicals.
• Existing catalysts face efficiency and selectivity challenges.
• Product degradation limits yields in current systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly efficient and selective catalyst for fructose conversion.
• To investigate the role of incorporated solvent moieties in sulfonated polymers.
• To improve the production of furan compounds from fructose.

Main Methods:

• Co-polymerization of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, divinylbenzene (DVB), and sodium p-styrene sulfonate (SPSS).
• Synthesis of a specific catalyst: 1.5VP/0.64SPSS/0.37DVB.
• Evaluation of catalyst performance in ethanol and tetrahydrofuran.

Main Results:

• The 1.5VP/0.64SPSS/0.37DVB catalyst achieved an 81.9% EMF yield and 92.7% total furan yield.
• This performance significantly surpasses previous reports.
• High 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) yield was observed in tetrahydrofuran, attributed to enhanced product stability.

Conclusions:

• Incorporating solvent moieties into sulfonated polymers enhances fructose conversion efficiency and selectivity.
• The developed catalyst effectively restrains product degradation, improving yields.
• This work provides a foundation for designing advanced catalysts for biomass-derived products.