Base-free conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid over a Ru/C catalyst

The catalytic conversion of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) over a commercial Ru/C catalyst in a base-free aqueous solution was studied with 88% FDCA yield. A self-catalyzed system using FDCA for the dehydration of fructose to HMF followed by base-free conversion of HMF to FDCA was also demonstrated with 53% overall yield.