Multifunctional nanocomposites with non-precious metals and magnetic core for 5-HMF oxidation to FDCA

The oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) has been investigated on multi-functional magnetic nano-composite catalysts (10M@xNb@MNP, where M = CoOx, MnOx or FeOx, 10 - 10wt% and x = Si/Nb ratio of 50 and 22) combining Nb-MCM-41 and Mn, Co and Fe oxides as a shell of a magnetic nanoparticles core. These catalysts were exhaustively characterized by several techniques such as XRD, adsorption-desorption of liquid nitrogen at 77K, CO2- and NH3-TPD, DRIFT, XPS, SEM-EDX, ICP-OES and ToF-SIMS. The new composite catalysts produced FDCA with a selectivity of 96.5 % for a X-HMF = 96.9 % (10Co@22Nb@MNP). A synergetic effect between MOx and Nb species in the activation of t-BuOOH and oxidation of HMF has been identified. The new developed catalysts do not require the presence of a base in the homogeneous phase and combine unique oxidation properties with practical separation advantages.