Copper phosphate nanostructures catalyze dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfufural

The nanostructured catalysts of copper hydrogen phosphate monohydrate and copper pyrophosphate were developed for catalyzing dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural under hot compressed water at 200 degrees C. As evidenced by X-ray absorption fine structure, X-ray diffraction, SEM, and TEM analyses, the CuHPO4 center dot H2O (as-synthesized) exhibits needle-like nanocrystals, while the samples calcined at 600 degrees C and 900 degrees C display alpha-Cu2P2O7 phases in rod-like nanostructure and irregularly shaped microcrystal, respectively. Each copper is distributed throughout the phosphate network. Among all samples, the Cu2P2O7 catalysts with weak acid strength ( +3.3 <= H0 <=+4.8) was highly active and selective for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production with a yield of 36% and maximum turnover number, while no metal leaching was observed after the reaction. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.