An innovative phosphated Zr-Si Laponite as a solid acid catalyst for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production from fructose

The dehydration of fructose is a crucial chemical process for synthesizing valuable chemicals and biofuels. This work explored an attractive strategy for harnessing lignocellulosic biomass through the catalytic conversion of fructose, yielding valuable 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) chemicals and biofuels. Sustainable and cost-effective methodologies for crafting catalysts via Laponite (Lap) modification to facilitate fructose transformation into HMF within a biphasic system comprising aqueous NaCl and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were examined. The phosphated Zr-grafted Si-enriched Lap (P/Zr-SiLap), as a solid acid catalyst, was synthesized through multiple straightforward steps involving mesoporous silica formation, Zr atom incorporation, and phosphation of pristine Lap. The P/Zr-SiLap catalyst proved to be a most promising catalyst, achieving an optimized HMF yield of 78.4% at 150 C with a turnover frequency (TOF) for HMF production of 2.8 x 10-5 h-1. Evaluation of the P/Zr-SiLap demonstrated the catalyst's robust endurance, ensuring its high potential for efficient recyclability. The enhanced HMF yield (%) attributable to the P/Zr-SiLap catalyst was systematically correlated with its structure-activity relationship, which was elucidated through various advanced analytical techniques.