Environmental impact of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production from cellulosic sugars using biochar-based acid catalyst

Abstract

In this study, HMF was successfully synthesized from a range of cellulosic sugars, utilizing sustainable acidic biochar derived from cassava rhizome (CR). Various acid precursors such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4), p-toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH), and ferric chloride (FeCl3) were chosen. Acids grafted biochar were carried out through a facile hydrothermal method. HMF production was performed at 175 °C for 0.5 h using 10 % of the acidic biochar catalyst in water to isopropanol (i-PrOH) mixture ratio of 1:4. The maximum HMF yields of fructose (53.29 wt%), glucose (2.94 wt%), and cellulose (0.38 wt%) could be achieved over 600-H2SO4, 700-FeCl3, and 400-H2SO4 catalysts, respectively. Moreover, the recyclability of the acidic biochar catalysts could distinguish more than five times without significant loss of activity. Remarkably, the life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis of the HMF production process indicated that the future sustainable industrial production of HMF could be realized involving the 600-TsOH catalyst.