Organic acid catalyzed production of platform chemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from fructose: Process comparison and evaluation based on kinetic modeling

Fructose was converted to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), an important biomass-derived platform chemical, under mild conditions (100–130 °C) with several organic acids including p-toluene sulfonic (pTSA), oxalic, maleic, malonic and succinic acids as the catalysts. The process kinetics was compared considering fructose dehydration to HMF as the objective reaction and condensation of fructose and HMF to humin and rehydration of HMF as the main side reactions. DMSO was found to be the most effective solvent reaction medium to obtain high fructose conversion and HMF yield. Observed kinetic modeling illustrated that the rehydration and condensation of HMF in DMSO actually could be neglected, especially for the oxalic acid catalyzed system. The determined observed activation energy for fructose conversion to HMF and humin in DMSO medium was 33.75 and 24.94 kJ/mol for pTSA catalyzed system, and 96.51 and 78.39 kJ/mol for oxalic acid-catalyzed system, respectively. HMF yields of 90.2% and 84.1% were obtained for pTSA and oxalic acid catalyzed systems, respectively.     

介孔磷酸铌一锅法高效催化木糖制备糠醛

木糖转化到糠醛一般包括两步: 首先在酶、碱或路易斯(L)酸的催化作用下异构化木糖到木酮糖, 接下来木酮糖在酸的作用下脱水得到糠醛. 针对木糖水相脱水一步制备糠醛, 利用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)为模板剂, 借助软模板合作策略制备了一种抗水的新型固体酸催化剂, 介孔磷酸铌, 并利用X射线衍射(XRD)、N₂吸脱附、透射电镜(TEM)、氨气程序升温脱附(NH₃-TPD)和吡啶吸附傅里叶变换红外(Py-FTIR)光谱对材料的结构和酸性质进行了表征. 研究发现介孔磷酸铌不仅具有很高的比表面积(>200 m²·g^-1), 比较窄的孔径分布(3.5nm), 同时还具有很强的L酸性和布朗斯特(B)酸性. 通过L酸催化的木糖异构化为木酮糖/来苏糖和B酸催化的木酮糖/来苏糖进一步脱水得到糠醛, 实现了一步由木糖到糠醛的高效转化. 为了优化反应条件, 考察了水溶液中反应温度、投料质量比及反应时间对木糖转化率和糠醛收率的影响, 在最佳的反应条件下, 木糖的转化率为96.5%, 糠醛的收率达49.8%. 进一步地, 为了提高收率且易于分离, 利用4-甲基-2-戊酮(MIBK)/NaCl水溶液(体积比为7:3)作为反应混合溶剂, 使糠醛收率提高到68.4%.     

The Promotion Effect of NaCl on the Conversion of Xylose to Furfural†

Summary of main observation and conclusion In this work,the promotion effect of NaCl on the conversion of xylose to furfural in H2O was studied.it was found that xylose conversion and furfural yield increased with NaCl concentration.NaCl decreased the pH of the solution providing H+ for the acid catalytic dehydration of xylose.The formation of oligomers was determined by GPC and ESI-MS in the initial stage of reaction,especially at low temperature.Excess NaCl promoted the formation of humins in the late stage of the reaction.NaCl could also change the decomposition route of formic acid.Meanwhile,NaCl had the ability of phase separation.Combining these effects with organic solvent during the reaction could inhibit the formation of humins and increase the yield of furfural.In NaCl-H2O-THF biphasic system without other catalyst,the optimal furfural yield of 76.7% and selectivity of 77.6% were achieved at 463 K in 2 h.     

Synthesis of 5-(perfluoroalkylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-ones

Acid catalysed condensation of F-alkyl α-hydroxy acids with simple aldehydes or ketones gave F-alkyl 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones. When BF₃,OEt₂ was used as the catalyst, the condensation products were obtained in moderate to good yields and the “cis” isomers are largely favoured, while with HOTs/H₂SO₄ as catalyst, poor yields and lower stereoselectivities were observed.     

Enhanced Furfural Production in Deep Eutectic Solvents Comprising Alkali Metal Halides as Additives

The addition of alkali metal halide salts to acidic deep eutectic solvents is here reported as an effective way of boosting xylan conversion into furfural. These salts promote an increase in xylose dehydration due to the cation and anion interactions with the solvent being a promising alternative to the use of harsh operational conditions. Several alkali metal halides were used as additives in the DES composed of cholinium chloride and malic acid ([Ch]Cl:Mal) in a molar ratio of 1:3, with 5 wt.% of water. These mixtures were then used as both solvent and catalyst to produce furfural directly from xylan through microwave-assisted reactions. Preliminary assays were carried out at 150 and 130 °C to gauge the effect of the different salts in furfural yields. A Response Surface Methodology was then applied to optimize the operational conditions. After an optimization of the different operating conditions, a maximum furfural yield of 89.46 ± 0.33% was achieved using 8.19% of lithium bromide in [Ch]Cl:Mal, 1:3; 5 wt.% water, at 157.3 °C and 1.74 min of reaction time. The used deep eutectic solvent and salt were recovered and reused three times, with 79.7% yield in the third cycle, and the furfural and solvent integrity confirmed.     

CuAlOx catalyst for the batch-flow tandem synthesis of amino acid-derived furfurylamines

Various amino acid-based furfurylamine derivatives were synthesized by two-stage procedure, which includes the condensation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (or furfural) with amino acid salts in methanol followed by hydrogenation of obtained imines in a flow reactor over CuAlO_x catalyst.     

AlCl3催化玉米秸秆中半纤维素的选择性转化

研究了AlCl₃ 催化剂作用下, 水热体系中玉米秸秆中半纤维素组分在温和条件下的选择性转化. 详细考察了反应温度、反应时间和AlCl₃用量对半纤维素选择性转化的影响. 原料及反应后的固体残渣分别采用化学滴定、X射线衍射和扫描电镜进行表征. 结果表明, 140 ℃下反应1 h可转化玉米秸秆中的大部分半纤维素, 转化率为85.1%;而玉米秸秆中的绝大部分纤维素和木质素组分仍保留在固体残渣中, 此时纤维素和木质素的转化率分别为10.7%和23.9%. 半纤维素转化的主要液体产物为木糖, 同时含有一些乙酸和糠醛. 升高温度, 将滤液进行进一步反应可促进木糖的转化. 在水/四氢呋喃反应体系中, 滤液的进一步反应有利于乙酰丙酸、甲酸和糠醛的生成. 固体酸催化剂γ-Al₂O₃/SO₄^2-的加入可进一步提高糠醛的收率.     

稻壳碳基固体酸催化剂的制备及在木糖脱水制备糠醛反应中的催化性能

以工业生产中碱法溶硅剩余的稻壳残渣为碳源,采用硫酸磺化法制备稻壳碳基固体酸催化剂,考察了其催化木糖脱水制备糠醛的性能.采用红外光谱、元素分析及表面酸浓度测定等手段对催化剂进行了表征.对固体酸催化剂的制备条件进行了优化,所得催化剂的表面酸浓度可达1.03 mmol/g.以木糖脱水制备糠醛为模型反应,考察了溶剂类别、反应温度和反应时间对固体酸催化剂催化性能的影响.实验结果表明,以二甲基亚砜(DMSO)为反应溶剂效果优于水,并且随着反应温度的升高和反应时间的延长,反应产率逐渐增加,最高可达75.8%.此外,还对催化剂的循环性能进行了研究,探讨了其失活原因和再生方法.     

Tetrel Bonds between Phenyltrifluorosilane and Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Influence of Basis Sets,Substitution and Competition

Ab initio calculations have been performed for the complexes of DMSO and phenyltrifluorosilane (PTS) and its derivatives with a substituent of NH₃, OCH₃, CH₃, OH, F, CHO, CN, NO₂, and SO₃H. It is necessary to use sufficiently flexible basis sets, such as aug’-cc-pVTZ, to get reliable results for the Si···O tetrel bonds. The tetrel bond in these complexes has been characterized in views of geometries, interaction energies, orbital interactions and topological parameters. The electron-donating group in PTS weakens this interaction and the electron-withdrawing group prominently strengthens it to the point where it exceeds that of the majority of hydrogen bonds. The largest interaction energy occurs in the p-HO₃S-PhSiF₃···DMSO complex, amounting to −122 kJ/mol. The strong Si···O tetrel bond depends to a large extent on the charge transfer from the O lone pair into the empty p orbital of Si, although it has a dominant electrostatic character. For the PTS derivatives of NH₂, OH, CHO and NO₂, the hydrogen bonded complex is favorable to the tetrel bonded complex for the NH₂ and OH derivatives, while the σ-hole interaction prefers the π-hole interaction for the CHO and NO₂ derivatives.     

不同酸解聚麦秸产物分析及其动力学

以麦秸为研究对象,解聚剂为HCl、HNO₃和H₃PO₄,对解聚产物进行定性和定量分析,并利用动力学模型描述木糖及糠醛的产生过程。 结果表明,解聚液中的产物有葡萄糖、木糖、阿拉伯糖、纤维二糖、乙酸、糠醛、5-羟甲基糠醛。 通过引入变量(α,木糖/木聚糖的比值)利用Saeman动力学模型获得了不同温度下,木聚糖的水解速率常数、木糖的转化速率常数以及糠醛的生成速率常数。 HCl、HNO₃和H₃PO₄解聚麦秸,木糖的生成活化能分别为55.5、46.3和59.8 kJ/mol。 结合反应温度、反应时间、反应速率以及木糖和糠醛的浓度,确定最佳解聚条件为:硝酸作解聚剂,在130 ℃下水解95 min。     

Process Development for the Detoxification of Fermentation Inhibitors from Acid Pretreated Microalgae Hydrolysate

The aim of this study was to remove 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) and furfural, known as fermentation inhibitors, in acid pretreated hydrolysates (APH) obtained from Scenedesmus obliquus using activated carbon. Microwave-assisted pretreatment was used to produce APH containing glucose, xylose, and fermentation inhibitors (5-HMF, furfural). The response surface methodology was applied to optimize key detoxification variables such as temperature (16.5–58.5 °C), time (0.5–5.5 h), and solid–liquid (S-L) ratio of activated carbon (0.6–7.4 w/v%). Three variables showed significant effects on the removal of fermentation inhibitors. The optimum detoxification conditions with the maximum removal of fermentation inhibitors and the minimum loss of sugars (glucose and xylose) were as follows: temperature of 36.6 °C, extraction time of 3.86 h, and S-L ratio of 3.3 w/v%. Under these conditions, removal of 5-HMF, furfural, and sugars were 71.6, 83.1, and 2.44%, respectively, which agreed closely with the predicted values. When the APH and detoxified APH were used for ethanol fermentation by S. cerevisiae, the ethanol produced was 38.5% and 84.5% of the theoretical yields, respectively, which confirmed that detoxification using activated carbon was effective in removing fermentation inhibitors and increasing fermentation yield without significant removal of fermentable sugars.     

Efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of arylamines with Pd/layered double-hydroxide-dodecyl sulfate anion for racemization

A novel and efficient racemization catalyst, Pd/layered double-hydroxide-dodecyl sulfate anion, was prepared and used in the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of arylamines. The undesired enantiomer was completely racemized at 55 °C, allowing the catalyst to be compatible with biocatalysts. DKR proceeded smoothly and showed a broad substrate scope, with good conversion and high product enantiomeric excesses (ee_p). The system could be reused more than 30 times without loss of conversion and ee_p value.     

Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation and Acid Reactions of Furfural and 5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural over Hf-TUD-1 Type Catalysts

Heterogeneous catalysis, which has served well the petrochemical industry, may valuably contribute towards a bio-based economy by sustainably enabling selective reactions to renewable chemicals. Carbohydrate-containing matter may be obtained from various widespread sources and selectively converted to furanic platform chemicals: furfural (Fur) and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (Hmf). Valuable bioproducts may be obtained from these aldehydes via catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) using alcohols as H-donors under relatively moderate reaction conditions. Hafnium-containing TUD-1 type catalysts were the first of ordered mesoporous silicates explored for the conversion of Fur and Hmf via CTH/alcohol strategies. The materials promoted CTH and acid reactions leading to the furanic ethers. The bioproducts spectrum was broader for the reaction of Fur than of Hmf. A Fur reaction mechanism based on literature data was discussed and supported by kinetic modelling. The influence of the Hf loading and reaction conditions (catalyst load, type of alcohol H-donor, temperature, initial substrate concentration) on the reaction kinetics was studied. The reaction conditions were optimized to maximize the yields of 2-(alkoxymethyl)furan ethers formed from Fur; up to 63% yield was reached at 88% Fur conversion, 4 h/150 °C, using Hf-TUD-1(75), which was a stable catalyst. The Hf-TUD-1(x) catalysts promoted the selective conversion of Hmf to bis(2-alkoxymethyl)furan; e.g., 96% selectivity at 98% Hmf conversion, 3 h/170 °C for Hf-TUD-1(50).     

Solid-State Structures and Photoluminescence of Lamellar Architectures of Cu(I) and Ag(I) Paddlewheel Clusters with Hydrogen-Bonded Polar Guests

Two hexanuclear paddlewheel-like clusters appending six carboxylic-acid pendants have been isolated with the inclusion of polar solvent guests: [Cu₆(Hmna)₆]·7DMF (1·7DMF) and [Ag₆(Hmna)₆]·8DMSO (2·8DMSO), where H₂mna = 2-mercaptonicotininc acid, DMF = N,N’-dimethylformamide, and DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide. The solvated clusters, together with their fully desolvated forms 1 and 2, have been characterized by FTIR, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, TG-DTA analysis, and DFT calculations. Crystal structures of two solvated clusters 1·7DMF and 2·8DMSO have been unambiguously determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Six carboxylic groups appended on the clusters trap solvent guests, DMF or DMSO, through H-bonds. As a result, alternately stacked lamellar architectures comprising of a paddlewheel cluster layer and H-bonded solvent layer are formed. Upon UV illumination (λ_ex = 365 nm), the solvated hexasilver(I) cluster 2·8DMSO gives intense greenish-yellow photoluminescence in the solid state (λ_PL = 545 nm, Φ_PL = 0.17 at 298 K), whereas the solvated hexacopper(I) cluster 1·7DMF displays PL in the near-IR region (λ_PL = 765 nm, Φ_PL = 0.38 at 298 K). Upon complete desolvation, a substantial bleach in the PL intensity (Φ_PL < 0.01) is observed. The desorption–sorption response was studied by the solid-state PL spectroscopy. Non-covalent interactions in the crystal including intermolecular H-bonds, CH⋯π interactions, and π⋯π stack were found to play decisive roles in the creation of the lamellar architectures, small-molecule trap-and-release behavior, and guest-induced luminescence enhancement.     

A reusable polymer supported copper catalyst for the C–N and C–O bond cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides as well as arylboronic acids

A simple and industrially viable protocol for C–N and C–O coupling was reported here. The polymer supported heterogeneous copper catalyst was prepared from chloromethyl polystyrene using a simple procedure. O-Arylation of substituted phenols with various aryl halides was achieved using this copper catalyst in DMSO medium. This heterogeneous copper catalyst, also efficiently works for the N-arylation of N–H heterocycles with aryboronic acids in methanol. This catalyst was also effective in amination reaction of primary amines with aryl halides as well as arylboronic acids in DMSO medium. The effects of solvent, base and temperature for the O-Arylation and amination reactions were reported. Further, the catalyst can be easily recovered quantitatively by simple filtration and reused up to several times without sufficient loss of its catalytic activity.     

水/二甲基亚砜体系中无机盐高效催化木糖脱水制备糠醛(英)

提出了一种高效的均相催化木糖制备糠醛的方法,探讨了水/二甲基亚砜（DMSO）均相体系中不同类型的无机盐对催化木糖制备糠醛的影响.结果表明,氯盐较硫酸盐和硝酸盐表现出较高的催化活性,其中以SnCl₄的催化效果最高.且它与LiCl复配时催化性能更高.当SnCl₄的摩尔分数为0.8时,催化效果最好,糠醛收率达56.9%.反应条件优化实验发现,当催化剂与木糖的摩尔比为0.5:1,固液比为1:20,水与DMSO体积比为5:5时,于130℃下反应6h,糠醛收率达63%.     

Production of Xylose from Meranti Wood Sawdust by Dilute Acid Hydrolysis

Xylitol production by bioconversion of xylose can be economically interesting if the raw material can be recovered from a cheap lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). Meranti wood sawdust (MWS) is a renewable and low-cost LCB that can be used as a promising and economic source of xylose, a starting raw material for the manufacture of several specialty chemicals, especially xylitol. This study aimed to optimize the hydrolysis process of MWS and to determine the influence of temperature, H₂SO₄ concentration, and residence time on xylose release and on by-product formation (glucose, arabinose, acetic acid, furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and lignin degradation products (LDPs)). Batch hydrolysis was conducted under various operating conditions, and response surface methodology was adopted to achieve the highest xylose yield. Xylose production was highly affected by temperature, acid concentration, and residence time. The optimum temperature, acid concentration, and time were determined to be 124 °C, 3.26 %, and 80 min, respectively. Under these optimum conditions, xylose yield and selectivity were attained at 90.6 % and 4.05 g/g, respectively.     

Hybrid SSF/SHF Processing of SO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Pretreated Wheat Straw—Tuning Co-fermentation by Yeast Inoculum Size and Hydrolysis Time

Wheat straw is one of the main agricultural residues of interest for bioethanol production. This work examines conversion of steam-pretreated wheat straw (using SO₂ as a catalyst) in a hybrid process consisting of a short enzymatic prehydrolysis step and a subsequent simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) step with a xylose-fermenting strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A successful process requires a balanced design of reaction time and temperature in the prehydrolysis step and yeast inoculum size and temperature in the SSF step. The pretreated material obtained after steam pretreatment at 210 °C for 5 min using 2.5 % SO₂ (based on moisture content) showed a very good enzymatic digestibility at 45 °C but clearly lower at 30 °C. Furthermore, the pretreatment liquid was found to be rather inhibitory to the yeast, partly due to a furfural content of more than 3 g/L. The effect of varying the yeast inoculum size in this medium was assessed, and at a yeast inoculum size of 4 g/L, a complete conversion of glucose and a 90 % conversion of xylose were obtained within 50 h. An ethanol yield (based on the glucan and xylan in the pretreated material) of 0.39 g/g was achieved for a process with this yeast inoculum size in a hybrid process (10 % water-insoluble solid (WIS)) with 4 h prehydrolysis time and a total process time of 96 h. The obtained xylose conversion was 95 %. A longer prehydrolysis time or a lower yeast inoculum size resulted in incomplete xylose conversion.     

A reusable polymer supported copper catalyst for the C–N and C–O bond cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides as well as arylboronic acids

A simple and industrially viable protocol for C–N and C–O coupling was reported here. The polymer supported heterogeneous copper catalyst was prepared from chloromethyl polystyrene using a simple procedure. O-Arylation of substituted phenols with various aryl halides was achieved using this copper catalyst in DMSO medium. This heterogeneous copper catalyst, also efficiently works for the N-arylation of N–H heterocycles with aryboronic acids in methanol. This catalyst was also effective in amination reaction of primary amines with aryl halides as well as arylboronic acids in DMSO medium. The effects of solvent, base and temperature for the O-Arylation and amination reactions were reported. Further, the catalyst can be easily recovered quantitatively by simple filtration and reused up to several times without sufficient loss of its catalytic activity.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the furan peroxide formation in the reaction of furfural with hydrogen peroxide in the presence or absence of sodium molybdate

The kinetics of the initial stage of the furfural reaction with hydrogen peroxide was studied in water in the presence of Na₂MoO₄ and in n-butanol without a catalyst. The mechanisms of furfural conversion in the Na₂MoO₄-H₂O₂ system and oxidation by hydrogen peroxide in the absence of sodium molybdate are discussed. Based on kinetic studies, the mechanism of furan peroxide formation is proposed. Proceedings of X International Conference on Chemistry of Organic and Organoelement Peroxides (Moscow, June 16–18, 1998).