Dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by a core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2-SO3H magnetic nanoparticle catalyst

Authors: ELSAYED, ISLAM - Mississippi State University; EL TAWEEL, FATHY - Damietta University; MASHALY, MOHAMMAD - Damietta University; Jackson, Michael - Mike; HASSAN, EL BARBARY - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Fuel
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2018
Publication Date: 6/1/2018
Citation: Elsayed, I., El Taweel, F., Mashaly, M., Jackson, M.A., Hassan, E.B. 2018. Dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by a core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2-SO3H magnetic nanoparticle catalyst. Fuel. 221:407-416. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2018.02.135.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.02.135

Interpretive Summary: The utilization of agricultural residues for the production of biobased fuels and chemicals needs the easy conversion of glucose to hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). HMF is considered to be a valuable starting material for the biobased chemical industry and is on the Department of Energy’s list of top 12 biobased chemicals. Promising uses for HMF include the manufacturing of plastics. The conversion of the sugar glucose to HMF requires an acid, as a catalyst, to initiate the reaction. In this work, we show that HMF can be prepared from glucose using a catalyst that serves as an acid to perform the reaction but is also magnetic. Since it is magnetic, the catalyst can be readily removed from the reaction using a simple magnet and it can then be reused. The ability to recover and reuse the catalyst is important in keeping the cost of the process low. The successful conversion of glucose to HMF will assist in the continued development of biorefineries which will contribute to rural development and increased farm revenues.

Technical Abstract: In this paper we discuss the potential use of (Fe3O4@SiO2-SO3H) nanoparticle catalyst for the dehydration of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). A magnetically recoverable (Fe3O4@SiO2-SO3H) nanoparticle catalyst was successfully prepared by supporting sulfonic acid groups (SO3H) on the surface of silica-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The prepared catalyst was characterized by FTIR, TGA, XRD, HRTEM-EDX, and N2 adsorption-desorption isothermal analyses. The catalyst’s surface acidity was determined by acid-base titration. Dehydration of glucose was performed in a biphasic system made up of water and methylisobutylketone (water/MIBK), and the effect of various reaction parameters affecting on the yield of HMF such as biphasic system ratio, catalyst concentration, temperature, time, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) ratio were studied. Fe3O4@SiO2-SO3H catalyst disclosed a great catalytic activity for the formation of HMF and glucose conversion. About 70% yield of HMF and 98% glucose conversion were obtained at the optimum reaction conditions (40% catalyst concentration, 140'°C, 24'h and biphasic system of 1:4 (water: MIBK) ratio). At the end of the reaction, the catalyst was easily removed from the reaction mixture using a magnet and reused several times without high loss in catalytic activity.