Interest in production of biorenewable replacements for common petrochemicals and fuels increases as availability of fossil fuels decreases. One potential platform chemical in a biorenewables-based chemicals industry is 5-hydroxymethyfurfural (HMF). The HMF oxidation product 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a possible replacement for petroleum-derived terephthalic acid, the monomer in PET plastic. Nanoparticles of Au and Pt supported on carbon nanofibers (CNFs), functionalized by treatment with either HNO3 or NH3, are catalytically active in the selective oxidation of HMF. Characterization of the catalysts and supports, as well as product selectivity and kinetics of HMF oxidation over these catalysts, will be reported. The oxidation of HMF to FDCA in water at ambient temperature over Pt and Au catalysts requires a high pH environment, often achieved with addition of homogeneous base. Increasing the reaction temperature to 348 K allows for high selectivity to FDCA over Pt/C without added base. Isotopic labeling studies are used to probe the mechanism of oxidation.

Au and Pt nanoparticles supported on functionalized carbon nanofibers as catalysts for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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