Hydroxymethylfurfural as an Intermediate of Cellulose Carbonization

Hydrogen bond donor solvents such as aromatic solvents inhibit the secondary degradation of cellulose-derived primary pyrolysis products. In a previous study, we found that the formation of solid carbonized products was completely inhibited during cellulose pyrolysis in aromatic solvents, with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) recovered in certain yields instead. This indicated that 5-HMF is an intermediate in cellulose carbonization. To confirm this hypothesis, the thermal reactivity of 5-HMF was investigated. At 280 °C, pure 5-HMF polymerized into a hard glassy substance through OH group elimination, but further conversion was slow. When pyrolyzed in the presence of glycerol, a model of coexisting primary pyrolysis products from cellulose, a coupling reaction proceeded. Reactions characteristic of cellulose carbonization then occurred, including the formation of acidic groups and benzene-type structures in the solid products. These results confirmed the above hypothesis. The molecular mechanism of cellulose carbonization is discussed, focusing on the crystalline nature.     

纤维素在离子液体中的降解转化

随着社会对能源资源的需求越来越大,生物质资源得到了广泛的重视,世界上存储量最大的生物质资源--纤维素在新兴溶剂离子液体中的降解转化受到了越来越多的关注。本文简要介绍了近几年来纤维素在离子液体中的溶解、单糖(果糖、葡萄糖)在离子液体中脱水转化为5-HMF(5-羟甲基糠醛)和纤维素在离子液体中一步降解转化为5-HMF的研究。指出目前研究存在的缺点与不足,并提出了可能的解决方法。     

ZnCl_2溶液中微波辅助SnCl_4催化纤维素制备5-HMF

将纤维素溶解在ZnCl_2溶液中,以SnCl_4为催化剂,微波下使纤维素降解成5-羟甲基糠醛(5-HMF)。实验考察了微波功率、纤维素的质量、ZnCl_2溶液浓度、反应时间及催化剂与纤维素物质的量比等对5-HMF产率的影响。结果表明,以SnCl_4为催化剂,在优化条件:1.0 g纤维素溶解在100 m L 70%ZnCl_2溶液中,微波功率为420 W,降解反应9 min,SnCl_4与纤维素物质的量比2∶1下,5-HMF的产率达到39.4%。     

微波辐射下氯化锌催化纤维素转化为呋喃类物质的研究

以氯化锌作为溶剂和催化剂,利用微波辅助氯化锌降解纤维素,致使纤维素直接转化为5-羟甲基糠醛(5-HMF)和1-(2-呋喃基)-2-羟基-乙酮两种呋喃类物质。通过考察反应温度、反应时间、氯化锌用量、纤维素加入量、微波功率和加热方式等因素对其摩尔产率影响可知,在140 mL质量分数为69%的ZnCl₂溶液中,纤维素用量为1 g,反应温度为135 ℃,反应时间为5 min,微波功率为500 W时,5-羟甲基糠醛的摩尔产率达到19.4%,微波功率为600 W时,1-(2-呋喃基)-2-羟基-乙酮的摩尔产率达到12.0%。     

The Role Played by Ionic Liquids in Carbohydrates Conversion into 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural: A Recent Overview

Obtaining industrially relevant products from abundant, cheap, renewable, and low-impacting sources such as lignocellulosic biomass, is a key step in reducing consumption of raw fossil materials and, consequently, the environmental footprint of such processes. In this regard, a molecule that is similar to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) plays a pivotal role, since it can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass and gives synthetic access to a broad range of industrially important products and polymers. Recently, ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as suitable solvents for the conversion of biomass and carbohydrates into 5-HMF. Herein, we provide a bird’s-eye view on recent achievements about the use of ILs for the obtainment of 5-HMF, covering works that were published over the last five years. In particular, we first examine reactions involving homogeneous catalysis as well as task-specific ionic liquids. Then, an overview of the literature addressing the use of heterogeneous catalysts, including enzymes, is presented. Whenever possible, the role of ILs and catalysts driving the formation of 5-HMF is discussed, also comparing with the same reactions that are performed in conventional solvents.     

Enhanced conversion of α-cellulose to 5-HMF in aqueous biphasic system catalyzed by FeCl_3-CuCl_2

This study was to investigate the optimal additions of the cellulose decomposition reaction to obtain the most yield of 5-HMF and other furan derivatives in various biphasic systems with FeCl_3-CuCl_2 mixed catalysts,and explore its depolymerization kinetics.A series of controllable reactions have been performed under mild environmentally friendly atmosphere.The experiment results showed that49.13 wt% of 5-HMF was the maximum production along with 2.98 wt% other furan derivatives catalyzed by mixed Lewis acid FeCl_3-CuCl_2 under the two phases which included high concentration NaCl aqueous phase and n-butanol organic phase at 190℃ for 45 min.The conclusion suggested that two-phase systems benefited the yield of 5-HMF,furan derivatives via extracting the target products from reaction phase to organic phase to avoid rehydration of 5-HMF.The kinetic calculation revealed the conversion with mixed catalysts had lower reaction apparent activation energy(21.65 kJ/mol,190-230℃) and the reaction rate was faster than that with acid-based catalysts.Based on experiment exploration,the probable mechanism of cellulose decomposition with FeCl_3-CuCl_2 was proposed.     

Facile catalytic dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by Niobium pentachloride

Different metal chlorides in ionic liquids were examined as catalysts for fructose dehydration to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). Niobium pentachloride (NbCl₅) exhibited the highest 5-HMF yield. Reaction of 1.0 mmol fructose in 10.0 mmol 1-butyl-3-methylimidozolium chloride ([bmim]Cl) with 0.20 mmol NbCl₅ afforded 79% of 5-HMF at 80 °C after 30 min. No degradation products were formed under these conditions. FTIR analysis indicates the moderate Lewis acidity of NbCl₅, which was found suitable for the selective formation of 5-HMF. Other catalysts with higher Lewis acidities promoted 5-HMF side product formation which ultimately resulted in lower yields.     

离子液体中树脂催化转化果糖为5-羟甲基糠醛

开发了以离子液体1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑氯盐([BMIM]Cl)为溶剂, 固体酸离子交换树脂NKC-9为催化剂转化果糖为5-羟甲基糠醛的绿色工艺. 在此催化体系中, 100 ℃下反应10 min时5-HMF的产率达到78.0%, 其反应时间远远小于已有文献报道的长达数小时的反应时间. 在此催化体系中, 果糖起始浓度的增加对5-HMF产率影响不大, 因而此工艺同样适用于处理高浓度的果糖溶液. 离子液体[BMIM]Cl和树脂组成的催化体系可以循环使用, 经过9次重复使用后仍能保持稳定的催化活性.     

Elucidation of interaction among cellulose, lignin and xylan during tar and gas evolution in steam gasification

Time profiles of evolution rates of gas and tar in steam gasification of model biomass samples were examined using a continuous cross-flow moving bed type differential reactor to elucidate the interaction of the major biomass components (cellulose, xylan, lignin) during gas and tar evolution. Two types of model biomass samples (sample A: mixture of cellulose (65 wt%) and lignin (35 wt%); sample B: mixture of cellulose (50 wt%), xylan (23 wt%), and lignin (27 wt%)) were used for the experiment. In steam gasification of sample A, the evolutions of water-soluble tar and gaseous products (CO, H₂, CH₄ and C₂H₄) are significantly suppressed by the interaction between cellulose and lignin. The primary (initial) decomposition of lignin is hindered by the interaction with pyrolysate of cellulose. Then, the CO₂ evolution appreciably enhanced and the evolution of water-soluble tar delays. These results may imply that the volatilization of water-soluble tar derived from cellulose is suppressed by lignin and then the decomposition of char derived from polymerized saccharides and lignin takes place, emitting mainly CO₂. From the results using sample B, it was found that the addition of xylan greatly enhances the evolutions of gases (CO₂, CO, CH₄ and H₂) and accelerates the evolution of water-soluble tar and CO₂, implying that the enhancement of decomposition of water-soluble tar into gases and/or xylan decomposes into gases without significant interaction with cellulose or lignin. In addition, yields of the major tar components (levoglucosan, furfural and 5-methylfurfural) were measured using HPLC. It was observed that the interaction among cellulose, xylan and lignin suppresses the evolution of levoglucosan and significantly increases the evolution rate of 5-methylfurfural. There is an insignificant influence of interaction among cellulose, xylan and lignin for furfural evolution.     

Biomass valorisation by staged degasification: A new pyrolysis-based thermochemical conversion option to produce value-added chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass

Pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass leads to an array of useful solid, liquid and gaseous products. Staged degasification is a pyrolysis-based conversion route to generate value-added chemicals from biomass. Because of different thermal stabilities of the main biomass constituents hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, different temperatures may be applied for a step-wise degradation into valuable chemicals. Staged degasification experiments were conducted with deciduous (beech, poplar), coniferous (spruce) and herbaceous (straw) biomass. Thermogravimetry was used to estimate appropriate temperatures for a two-stage degradation process that was subsequently evaluated on bench-scale by moving bed and bubbling fluidised bed pyrolysis experiments. Degasification in two consecutive stages at 250–300 °C and 350–400 °C leads to mixtures of degradation products that originate from the whole biomass. The mixtures that were generated at 250–300 °C, predominantly contain hemicellulose degradation products, while the composition of the mixtures that were obtained at 350–400 °C, is more representative for cellulose. Lignin-derived fragments are found in both mixtures. Yields up to 5 wt% of the dry feedstock are obtained for chemicals like acetic acid, furfural, acetol and levoglucosan. Certain groups of thermal degradation products like C₂–C₄ oxygenates and phenols are formed in yields up to 3 wt%. Highest yields have been obtained for beech wood. Staged degasification is a promising pyrolysis-based route to valorise lignocellulosic biomass. Clear opportunities exist to increase product yields and selectivities by optimisation of reactor conditions, application of catalysts and specific biomass pretreatments like demineralisation and pre-hydrolysis.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural in food

5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) is considered to be an excellent indicator of quality deterioration due to excessive heating or storage for a wide range of carbohydrate-containing foods. To facilitate its analysis, a highly selective and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of 5-HMF in food has been developed. A specific polyclonal antibody was produced against a conjugate of 5-HMF coupled to bovine serum albumin. The IC₅₀ and limit of method detection were 0.15 ± 0.012 mg L^-1 and 0.02 ± 0.002 mg L^-1, respectively. The proposed method was applied to detect 5-HMF in French mini bread, potato chips, French soft bread, and wheat chicken nuggets with recoveries ranging from 84.07 to 97.09% and relative standard deviation (n = 3) below 8.65% in all samples. The quantitative results were in good agreement with those obtained by the high-performance liquid chromatography method, which suggests that the method developed will be very useful for monitoring 5-HMF in food samples.     

Phosphorus catalysis in the pyrolysis behaviour of biomass

Phosphorus is a key plant nutrient and as such, is incorporated into growing biomass in small amounts. This paper examines the influence of phosphorus, present in either acid (H₃PO₄) or salt ((NH₄)₃PO₄) form, on the pyrolysis behaviour of both Miscanthus × giganteus, and its cell wall components, cellulose, hemicellulose (xylan) and lignin (Organosolv). Pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (PY–GC–MS) is used to examine the pyrolysis products during thermal degradation, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is used to examine the distribution of char and volatiles. Phosphorus salts are seen to catalyse the pyrolysis and modify the yields of products, resulting in a large increase in char yield for all samples, but particularly for cellulose and Miscanthus. The thermal degradation processes of cellulose, xylan and Miscanthus samples occur in one step and the main pyrolysis step is shifted to lower temperature in the presence of phosphorus. A small impact of phosphorus was observed in the case of lignin char yields and the types of pyrolysis decomposition products produced. Levoglucosan is a major component produced in fast pyrolysis of cellulose. Furfural and levoglucosenone become more dominant products upon P-impregnation pointing to new rearrangement and dehydration routes. The P-catalysed xylan decomposition route leads to a much simpler mixture of products, which are dominated by furfural, 3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one and one other unconfirmed product, possibly 3,4-dihydro-2-methoxy-2H-pyran or 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydro-(2H)-pyran-2-one. Phosphorus-catalysed lignin decomposition also leads to a modified mixture of tar components and desaspidinol as well as other higher molecular weight component become more dominant relative to the methoxyphenyl phenols, dimethoxy phenols and triethoxy benzene. Comparison of the results for Miscanthus lead to the conclusion that the understanding of the fast pyrolysis of biomass can, for the most part, be gained through the study of the individual cell wall components, provided consideration is given to the presence of catalytic components such as phosphorus.     

Highly efficient preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from sucrose using ionic liquids and heteropolyacid catalysts in dimethyl sulfoxide–water mixed solvent

Several types of ILs and solid acids were used as catalysts in one-pot conversion of sucrose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (abbreviated as 5-HMF) in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/water mixed solvent under hydrothermal conditions. A remarkable 5-HMF yield of 91.8% was achieved catalyzed by the cesium salt of dodecatungstophosphoric acid (Cs_2.3H_0.7PW₁₂O₄₀) within 3 h at 180 ℃. The ionic liquid N-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([Hmim][HSO₄]) gave the 5-HMF in 82.0% yield from sucrose. To the best of our knowledge, it was almost the highest yield of HMF from sucrose by now. Various reaction parameters including reaction temperature and time and catalyst dosage were optimized. A possible mechanism for this catalytic process was proposed. Furthermore, fructose and glucose were also investigated, good yields of 5-HMF was obtained respectively. This increases the possibility of large-scale production of 5-HMF from carbohydrates.     

Nb-P/SBA-15催化剂的制备及其对果糖水解制5-羟甲基糠醛的催化性能

果糖催化脱水制5-羟甲基糠醛（5-HMF）是生物质转化制高附加值化合物过程中的一个重要反应。采用自制的介孔SBA-15,浸渍法制备了Nb/SBA-15催化剂,再经磷酸化处理制得Nb-P/SBA-15催化剂,研究了该催化剂在果糖脱水制5-HMF反应中的性能。SEM、TEM、BET和XRD表征结果表明,Nb/SBA-15和Nb-P/SBA-15完好地保留了SBA-15的微观结构,其内孔道直径为10 nm,铌酸在孔内表面分布均匀;负载铌和磷酸化后,孔壁变薄。NH₃-TPD结果显示,Nb/SBA-15经磷酸预处理后,不仅弱酸性位有所增加,而且产生了中强酸和强酸性位,使得在含水两相体系果糖脱水反应中,Nb-P/SBA-15比Nb/SBA-15具有更高的催化活性和5-HMF选择性。同时考察了反应温度、溶剂比例、反应时间对果糖脱水的影响,结果表明,以水/MIBK（V/V=1/2）为溶剂时,160 ℃下反应1.5 h,果糖转化率和5-HMF收率分别高达96.1%和92.6%。Nb-P/SBA-15经循环使用四次后仍具有较好的催化活性,表明该催化剂具有较高的耐水稳定性。     

Combined use of H2SO4 and SO2 impregnation for steam pretreatment of spruce in ethanol production

Fuel ethanol can be produced from softwood through hydrolysis in an enzymatic process. Prior to enzymatic hydrolysis of the softwood, pretreatment is necessary. In this study, two-step steam pretreatment employing dilute H₂SO₄ impregnation in the first step and SO₂ impregnation in the second step, to improve the overall sugar and ethanol yield, was investigated. The first pretreatment step was performed under conditions of low severity (180°C, 10 min, 0.5% H₂SO₄) to optimize the amount of hydrolyzed hemicellulose. In the second step, the washed solid material from the first pretreatment step was impregnated with SO₂ and pretreated under conditions of higher severity to make the cellulose more accessible to enzymatic attack, as well as to hydrolyze a portion of the cellulose. A wide range of conditions was used in the second step to determine the most favorable combination. The temperatures investigated were between 190 and 230°C, the residence times were 2, 5, and 10 min; and the SO₂ concentration was 3%. The effect of pretreatment was assessed by both enzymatic hydrolysis of the solids and by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of the whole slurry, after the second pretreatment step. For each set of pretreatment conditions, the liquid fraction was also fermented to determine any inhibitory effects. Ethanol yield using the SSF configuration reached 66% of the theoretical value for pretreatment conditions in the second step of 210°C and 5 min. The sugar yield using the separate hydrolysis and fermentation configuration reached 71% for pretreatment conditions of 220°C and 5 min.     

Synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from glucose in a biphasic medium with AlCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> and boric acid as the catalyst

In combination with non-corrosive and low-toxic boric acid, AlCl₃ · 6H₂O was found to be effective for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from glucose. In this work, a 5-HMF yield of ≈ 60 % was obtained at 170°C for 40 min in a H₂O/THF biphasic solvent mixture. An addition of NaCl not only improved the partition coefficients but also inhibited by-product formation. THF was identified as an ideal extraction solvent in biphasic systems containing C4 solvents. However, low concentration of ZnCl₂, CoCl₂ · 6H₂O, MnCl₂ · 4H₂O, NiCl₂ · 6H₂O, FeCl₃ · 6H₂O were not suitable for the catalyst system, while ZrOCl₂ · 8H₂O, InCl₃ · 4H₂O showed high activity for the reaction. Boric acid increased the amount of Lewis acid sites in the reactive phase and enhanced the isomerization of glucose to fructose. A mechanism of the AlCl₃ · 6H₂O and boric acid catalyzed glucose dehydration reaction was proposed to proceed through the isomerization of glucose to fructose followed by the transformation of fructose to 5-HMF.     

Effect of zeolites and nanopowder metal oxides on the distribution of chiral anhydrosugars evolved from pyrolysis of cellulose: An analytical study

An analytical procedure, employing a commercial heated filament pyrolyser, was utilised for studying the effect of zeolites (H-Y, NH₄-Y and NH₄-ZSM-5 types) and nanopowder metal oxides (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, TiSiO₄ and Al₂O₃TiO₂) on the pyrolytic production of chiral anhydrosugars from cellulose. Cellulose mixed with catalyst was pyrolysed at 500 °C for 60 s, the evolved products were trapped onto a XAD-2 resin, eluted with acetonitrile and analysed directly, or after trimethylsilylation, by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Yields were determined for the following anhydrosugars: levoglucosan (LGA, 1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose), levoglucosenone (LGO, 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-4-one), 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-β-d-glucopyranose (DGP) and the δ-lactone of 3-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylic acid (LAC, 1-hydroxy-3,6-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one). This latter compound, quoted only once in the available literature, was tentatively identified by its GC–MS characteristics. Zeolites and nanopowder metal oxides exhibited a strong influence on the pyrolytic behaviour of cellulose, but whereas zeolites acted to reduce the overall yields of anhydrosugars with respect to pure cellulose, all nanopowders but silicon oxide provided higher yields. LGO and LAC accounted for the larger production of anhydrosugars promoted by aluminium titanate, titanium silicate and aluminium oxide with respect to pure cellulose, while the yields of LGA and DGP remained comparable or even lower. The nanosized characteristics of aluminium titanate, the oxide giving the highest yields of LGO and LAC, were considered a determinant factor for its activity, as powder aluminium titanate resulted ineffective.     

Responsive Mesoporous Photonic Cellulose Films by Supramolecular Cotemplating

Cellulose‐based materials have been and continue to be exceptionally important for humankind. Considering the bioavailability and societal relevance of cellulose, turning this renewable resource into an active material is a vital step towards sustainability. Herein we report a new form of cellulose‐derived material that combines tunable photonic properties with a unique mesoporous structure resulting from a new supramolecular cotemplating method. A composite of cellulose nanocrystals and a urea–formaldehyde resin organizes into a chiral nematic assembly, which yields a chiral nematic mesoporous continuum of desulfated cellulose nanocrystals after alkaline treatment. The mesoporous photonic cellulose (MPC) films undergo rapid and reversible changes in color upon swelling, and can be used for pressure sensing. These new active mesoporous cellulosic materials have potential applications in biosensing, optics, functional membranes, chiral separation, and tissue engineering.     

过渡金属基催化剂降解纤维素应用研究进展

使用廉价过渡金属替代强酸和贵金属催化剂实现纤维素的高效转化是绿色化工的发展方向,一直是众多研究者关注的焦点。本文分别从纤维素热解(包括热解液化和热解气化)、纤维素水解、纤维素氢解和纤维素降解转化为5-羟甲基糠醛(5-HMF)等方面综述了过渡金属基催化剂在纤维素转化过程中的应用,从催化剂类型、反应条件和反应机理等方面介绍了过渡金属基催化剂催化的纤维素转化应用研究进展;最后,指出了催化过程中存在的问题,并对未来的研究方向进行展望。