Catalytic Partial Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2, 5-Furandicarboxylic Acid (FDCA)

Petroleum is the base of everything in today's world. By everything I mean: economy, politics, energy, pharmaceutics, and manufacture of different products. This famous, so useful liquid causes critical environmental problems that have damaged our planet. This situation has led researchers to look for a different source other than petroleum chemicals. This source is found in the conversion of non-food carbohydrates to fine, important chemicals. An example of fine chemicals is 2,5-furandicarboxylic (FDCA) acid which can substitute petroleum derivatives such as terephthalic acid in the production of polyesters. The production of FDCA is carried out by the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). HMF can be obtained by the dehydration of fructose (carbohydrate), which is available in great amounts. The purpose of this research was to understand the oxidation reaction involved in FDCA production in order to improve its method in a green way, achieve higher selectivity, and increase the reaction rate.