Experimental and Modeling Studies on the Conversion of Inulin to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Using Metal Salts in Water

Catalysts

Boy Arief Fachri²  Carolus Borromeus Rasrendra¹  Hero Jan Heeres² 

[1] Chemical Engineering Department, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung 40132, Indonesia; E-Mail:;Chemical Engineering Department, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands; E-Mail:

关键词: inulin;    metal salts;    HMF;    levulinic acid;    CuCl₂;   

DOI  :  10.3390/catal5042287

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Inulin, a plant polysaccharide consisting of mainly d-fructose units, is considered an interesting feed for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a top 12 bio-based chemical. We here report an exploratory experimental study on the use of a wide range of homogeneous metal salts as catalysts for the conversion of inulin to HMF in water. Best results were obtained using CuCl₂. Activity-pH relations indicate that the catalyst activity of CuCl₂ is likely related to Lewis acidity and not to Brönsted acidity. The effects of process conditions on HMF yield for CuCl₂ were systematically investigated and quantified using a central composite design (160–180 °C, an inulin loading between 0.05 and 0.15 g/mL, CuCl₂ concentration in range of 0.005–0.015 M, and a reaction time between 10 and 120 min). The highest experimental HMF yield in the process window was 30.3 wt. % (39 mol %, 180 °C, 0.05 g/mL inulin, 0.005 M CuCl₂ and a reaction time of 10 min). The HMF yields were modelled using non-linear, multi variable regression and good agreement between experimental data and model were obtained.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.