Innovative microwave and continuous flow synthesis of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural from Biomass-Derived Resources using Deep eutectic solvents

The conversion of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), a crucial precursor for bio-based polymers, is an important area of research considering its potential for renewable materials. Current approaches frequently pose efficiency and cost difficulties. Rakhatkyzy et al. devised an optimal, efficient, and cost-effective technique for converting D-(+)-glucose monohydrate to 5-HMF using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and two innovative synthesis methods: microwave-assisted and continuous flow reactors. They used a TBAB-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) system that incorporated microwave irradiation and an isopropanol/water solvent matrix. Crucial variables such as reaction time, temperature, solvent ratio, reactant and catalyst concentration were optimized. Surpassing the existing literature, we obtained 5-HMF yield of 73.4%, at 110 °C in 1 min. In addition, synthesis was also carried in an innovative continuous flow reactor system to compare with microwave synthesis, which gave a yield of 40.55 % at 170 °C with a residence time of 20 min under optimized conditions, demonstrating scalability. The extraction of 5-HMF from the reaction matrix was carried with ethyl acetate with an efficiency of 92 %. Molecular dynamics simulations were implemented to analyze the initial mechanism of conversion of D-glucose monohydrate. Simulations revealed that the solvent composition, specifically the presence of Br- and Cl- ions, significantly influenced hydrogen bond formation and catalytic performance, enhancing the conversion efficiency. This novel approach, which use microwave-assisted and continuous flow reactors, greatly enhance 5-HMF yield and efficiency while minimizing reaction time and energy consumption. This continuous flow system is essential for scaling up production since it provides a sustainable and energy-efficient solution for industrial applications.

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