Efficient and environmental-friendly dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural in water under high pressure of CO2

To develop reaction systems of chemical conversion of biomass, fructose was heated in an aqueous medium under pressurized CO2, which caused in situ generation of carbonic acid. It gave 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) as a dehydration product in good yields. The maximum yield of HMF was 92% in the reaction at 90 degrees C under 7.0 MPa of CO2 for 168 h. The reaction proceeded in the absence of any other reagents such as non-volatile acids, organic solvents, inorganic, and organic salts. It means green, environmental friendly, and efficient process was achieved for production of HMF. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.