SYNTHESIS OF ACID HETEROGENEOUS BIFUNCTIONAL CATALYST FOR CONVERTING CARBOHYDRATES TO 5-HYDROXYMETHYL FURFURAL
The use of renewable resources to obtain high value products is now a worldwide
request, given the growing demand for resources together with the need for a new meaning for
what is discarded. The redefinition of waste can contribute to the formation of circular
economies, capable of reducing costs, generating profit and reducing environmental impacts.
Among the most common residues we have lignocellulosic biomass, composed of different
carbohydrates, which can be converted into platform molecules. Among the platform products,
great emphasis is given to 5-HMF due to applicability in various industrial environments,
biofuel, fuel additive, chemical inputs, etc. In the present work, the synthesis of heterogeneous
bifunctional acid catalysts based on Kraft lignin, a by-product of the pulp and paper industry,
was made. Brønsted acid groups were inserted into these catalysts, through in situ hydrothermal
carbonization at 180°C for 6 hours with a 1:6 ratio between precursor:H2SO4, and Lewis groups
through wet impregnation, with tin chloride solutions (IV) in different concentrations 3, 9 and
20%, followed by heat treatment in a tubular oven at 300°C for 4 hours. The obtained materials
were characterized by Boehm Method, TGA, FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM, EDX, XPS and
Physisorption analyses. They were also tested in the reactions of conversion of fructose and
glucose into 5-HMF, with conventional heating of 100 and 180°C, respectively, both for 1h
under stirring. The products obtained were detected and quantified with the support of a HPLC,
where it was possible to verify the formation of 5-HMF and the effectiveness of the synthesis
techniques employed.