Conversion of fructose into 5-hydroxy methyl furfural over Mesoporous-ZrO2-phosphomolybdic acid nanocomposite catalysts

Abstract

A series of phosphomolybdic acid (MPA) with varying ts contant incorporated into the mesoporous zirconia (ZMPA) catalysts were prepared by surfactant-assisted sol-gel copolymerization technique. These catalysts were evaluated for selective dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF). The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, Fourer-Transform infrared, temperature programmed disorption, pyridine adsorbed FT-infrared and transmssion electron microscopy. The characterization results suggest that these catalysts possess ordered mesoporous structure with Keggin heteropoly molybdate. More over the incorporation of phosphomolybdic acid into mesoporous zirconia resulted in generaton of more number of strong acidic sites. These catalysts exhibited about 80 % HMF yield with in 30 min of reaction time. The existence of relatively strong interaction between the MPA keggin units with ZrO₂ mesoporous structure played crucial role in fabricating the stable heterogeneous catalyst. This catalyst is reusable with constant activity.