Synergistic catalysis of species in molten salt hydrate for conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

The one-pot approach was developed by using molten salt hydrate consisting of ZnCl2.4H(2)O and LiCl.3H(2)O to produce 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from cellulose. Cellulose was dissolved and regenerated to study the interaction of cellulose and molten salt hydrate. The effects of ZnCl2.4H(2)O concentration, reaction time, and temperature on the conversion of cellulose to 5-HMF were investigated. 5-HMF yield increased when ZnCl2.4H(2)O was mixed with LiCl.3H(2)O, and the maximum value (44.1%) was reached at 160 ?C and 90 min when ZnCl2.4H(2)O concentration was 64.9 mol%. The species of ZnCl2.4H(2)O -LiCl.3H(2)O were analyzed, and the function of species concentration was correlated with the 5-HMF yield from the conversion of glucose and fructose. It was found that the synergistic catalysis of ZnCl3- , Zn2(+), Zn(OH)(+), H+ as well as Li+ promoted the efficiently cellulose conversion to 5-HMF.

Automated summary

The one-pot approach using molten salt hydrate can efficiently convert cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). Synergistic catalysis of ZnCl2.4H(2)O and LiCl.3H(2)O at appropriate temperature and concentration conditions promotes the production of 5-HMF.