Issue 17, 2018

Three-step cascade over a single catalyst: synthesis of 5-(ethoxymethyl)furfural from glucose over a hierarchical lamellar multi-functional zeolite catalyst

Abstract

The synthesis of hierarchical lamellar zeolites with a controlled meso-/microporous morphology and acidity is an expanding area of research interest for a wide range of applications. Here, we report a one-step synthesis of a hierarchical meso-/microporous lamellar MFI–Sn/Al zeolite (i.e., containing both Lewis acidic Sn- and Al-sites and a Brønsted acidic Al–O(H)–Si site) and its catalytic application for the conversion of glucose into 5-(ethoxymethyl)furfural (EMF). The MFI–Sn/Al zeolite was prepared with the assistance of a diquaternary ammonium ([C22H45–N+(CH3)2–C6H12–N+(CH3)2–C6H13]Br2−, C22-6-6) template in a composition of 100SiO2/5C22-6-6/18.5Na2O/xAl2O3/ySnO2/2957H2O (x = 0.5, 1, and 2; y = 1 and 2, respectively). The MFI–Sn/Al zeolites innovatively feature dual meso-/microporosity and dual Lewis and Brønsted acidity, which enabled a three-step reaction cascade for EMF synthesis from glucose in ethanol solvent. The reaction proceeded via the isomerization of glucose to fructose over Lewis acidic Sn sites and the dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and then the etherification of HMF and ethanol to EMF over the Brønsted acidic Al–O(H)–Si sites. The co-existence of multiple acidities in a single zeolite catalyst enabled one-pot cascade reactions for carbohydrate upgrading. The dual meso-/microporosity in the MFI–Sn/Al zeolites facilitated mass transport in processing of bulky biomass molecules. The balance of both types of acidity and meso-/microporosity realized an EMF yield as high as 44% from the glucose reactant.

Graphical abstract: Three-step cascade over a single catalyst: synthesis of 5-(ethoxymethyl)furfural from glucose over a hierarchical lamellar multi-functional zeolite catalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
05 févr. 2018
Accepted
06 mars 2018
First published
06 mars 2018

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018,6, 7693-7705

Author version available

Three-step cascade over a single catalyst: synthesis of 5-(ethoxymethyl)furfural from glucose over a hierarchical lamellar multi-functional zeolite catalyst

Y. Bai, L. Wei, M. Yang, H. Chen, S. Holdren, G. Zhu, D. T. Tran, C. Yao, R. Sun, Y. Pan and D. Liu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018, 6, 7693 DOI: 10.1039/C8TA01242C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements