Abstract
5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) is a bio-based platform chemical with high potential. The as-synthesized Nb-SBA-15 catalysts with mesoporous structures showed high catalytic performance for the conversion of carbohydrates to HMF in a “one-pot” process using biphasic conditions of THF/H2O-NaCl as the solvents. Nb-SBA-15 catalysts with different Si/Nb ratios were characterized by analytical techniques such as XRD, elemental analysis, SEM, TEM, N2 adsorption, NH3-TPD UV–vis DRS, Raman and Pyridine-FTIR. It was found that the acidity of Nb-SBA-15 catalysts could be tuned by modifying addition amount of niobium. The effects of reaction conditions, including temperature, time, and catalyst loading, on the conversions of carbohydrates and the yields of HMF were also investigated. The studies showed that Nb-SBA-15-40 catalysts which Si/Nb ratio is 40 gave the best yields of HMF due that Nb-SBA-15-40 had more niobium species in the SBA-15 silica framework and the mononuclear tetrahedral NbO4. Under the optimized conditions, the yield of HMF could reach 61.8% at 93.5% glucose conversion and 50.7% at 94.0% cellulose conversion, respectively. Moreover, its catalytic performance was largely retained after 10 recycles in glucose conversion reaction vindicating its good catalytic stability.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
