Replacing petroleum feedstocks by biomass requires efficient methods to convert carbohydrates to a variety of chemical compounds. We report the catalytic conversion of sugars giving high yield to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a versatile intermediate. Metal halides in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride are catalysts, among which chromium (II) chloride is found to be uniquely effective, leading to the conversion of glucose to HMF with a yield near 70%. A wide range of metal halides is found to catalyze the conversion of fructose to HMF. Only a negligible amount of levulinic acid is formed in these reactions.

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The extraction of soy oil from soybean flakes in industry requires large amounts of hexane solvent and results in significant losses and energy consumption during the distillative removal of the solvent. Hexanes and related hydrocarbon extractants are also becoming an environmental and health concern. A new method for extraction of the oil is sought, that would require neither hexane nor distillative removal of solvent. This article presents a preliminary assessment of several new methods for soy oil extraction and subsequent solvent removal from the oil. The most promising are (a) extraction by an amidine switchable solvent that can then be removed from the soy oil by carbonated water and (b) extraction by a moderately hydrophilic solvent that can then be removed from the oil by water.

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