Upgrading biomass-derived furans via acid-catalysis/hydrogenation: the remarkable difference between water and methanol as the solvent

Xun Hu, Roel J.M. Westerhof, Liping Wu, Dehua Dong, Chun Zhu Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

96 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In methanol 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfuryl alcohol (FA) can be selectively converted into methyl levulinate via acidcatalysis, whereas in water polymerization dominates. The hydrogenation of HMF, furan and furfural with the exception of FA is much more selective in methanol than in water.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)219-224
Number of pages6
JournalGreen Chemistry
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Cite this