(521a) Continuous 5-HMF Production in a Biphasic System Using Mesoporous Aluminosilicate Functionalized with Acid

The utilization of renewable biomass resources as a substitute for dwindling petroleum resources and addressing the issue of global warming has become increasingly important. One potential product of interest derived from biomass is 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) due to its high value and growing market. 5-HMF can be synthesized using acidic catalysts in various solvents from agricultural byproducts like lignin, cellulose, fructose, and glucose. Although DMSO has been preferred in a monophasic system for producing 5-HMF from fructose, its high boiling point poses a challenge in recovering the product through distillation. This challenge is exacerbated by the reactive nature of 5-HMF, which leads to low purity. To address this limitation, biphasic systems using mineral acids or ion exchange resins as catalysts have been explored. However, mineral and metallic acids have safety hazards and can cause corrosion, while ion exchange resin is susceptible to heat-induced deformation that can obstruct the reactor during the reaction, making it difficult to handle at temperatures above 110 ^oC. This study examines various types of biphasic solvents over the heterogeneous acid catalyst, Al-MCM-41-SO4, to develop an efficient continuous process for 5-HMF production with high yield and selectivity. The study's novelty is the use of an Al-MCM41-SO4 catalyst in a continuous biphasic flow reactor system, with a specific focus on recovering 5-HMF and recycling the solvent. The research findings could lead to the development of more efficient and sustainable methods for producing valuable chemicals and fuels using renewable biomass resources.