CePO4, a multi-functional catalyst for carbohydrate biomass conversion: production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2,5-diformylfuran, and γ-valerolactone?

Sustainable Energy & Fuels Pub Date: 2019-07-15 DOI: 10.1039/C9SE00272C

Abstract

Carbohydrates are considered as an economical and green source of energy; however, the high oxygen content present in carbohydrates makes them non-attractive as a fuel/fuel additives. Here, a simple multi-functional catalyst, CePO4, is presented for the efficient conversion of various carbohydrates (fructose, glucose, sucrose, and starch) into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). To improve the catalytic activity of CePO4, especially for glucose and starch conversion, CePO4 is supported on the surface of an H-beta zeolite. CePO4 and CePO4 supported on the H-beta zeolite are thoroughly characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, N2-sorption, electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, pyridine adsorbed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and NH3 temperature programmed desorption techniques. The carbohydrate to HMF conversion is demonstrated in a water–diglyme solvent mixture. Moreover, CePO4 exhibits very good activity for the selective oxidation of HMF to 2,5-diformylfuran in O2 at one atmospheric pressure under flow conditions. The catalytic activity of CePO4 is further explored for γ-valerolactone production from levulinic acid by using 2-propanol as the hydrogen source. One simple reusable CePO4 catalyst catalyzing three different reactions under different reaction conditions is interesting and certainly would attract industrial chemists and catalysis researchers.

Graphical abstract: CePO4, a multi-functional catalyst for carbohydrate biomass conversion: production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2,5-diformylfuran, and γ-valerolactone
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