Cascade of liquid-phase catalytic transfer hydrogenation and etherification of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to potential biodiesel components over Lewis acid zeolites

Jungho Jae, Eyas Mahmoud, Raul F. Lobo, Dionisios G. Vlachos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

99 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report a one-step process for the production of diesel fuel from biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The reaction proceeds through the sequential transfer hydrogenation and etherification of HMF to 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furan, a potential biodiesel additive, catalyzed by a Lewis acid zeolite, such as Sn-Beta or Zr-Beta. An alcohol is used as a hydrogen donor and as a reactant in etherification. This cascade reaction can selectively produce high yields of the biodiesel additive (>80 % yield) from HMF with the Sn-Beta catalyst and secondary alcohols, such as 2-propanol and 2-butanol. Diesel addiction: Biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is converted to 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furan, a potential biodiesel additive, through sequential transfer hydrogenation and etherification reactions catalyzed by a Lewis acid zeolite, such as Sn-Beta or Zr-Beta. Sn-Beta selectively produces high yields of the biodiesel additive (>80 % yield) with secondary alcohols, such as 2-propanol and 2-butanol, as hydrogen donors and as etherification agents.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)508-513
Number of pages6
JournalChemCatChem
Volume6
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • alcohols
  • biomass
  • etherification
  • transfer hydrogenation
  • zeolites

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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