Engineering the future: Perspectives in the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid synthesis

Abstract

We present a perspective work on the synthesis of 2,5-furanodicarboxylic acid (FDCA), which is a highly promising building block for resins and polymers. FDCA is presumed as a green replacement for (fossil-based) terephthalate a predominant compound in polymer and resin manufacture today, with a potential market size of several 100 M€. However, the use of FDCA is still limited because of its high price and the various issues linked to its industrial scale production. We discuss herein the synthesis of FDCA from glucose using heterogeneous catalysts and base-free conditions. We discuss also the possibility and the perspectives in an efficient FDCA production process directly from glucaric acid (glucose derivative) using new-engineered nanocatalysts (hybrid catalysts). This process permits to avoid the nonselective and highly expensive step of glucose isomerization to fructose.

Efficient Oxidative Esterification of Furfural Using Au Nanoparticles Supported on Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metal Oxides

“…Several products that are obtained via HMF oxidation are of great interest for the polymer industry because their derivatives can be used as C6 monomers to replace petrochemical monomers [1-10]. For example, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a monomer in the production of polyethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate (PEF), being a green alternative to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [11][12][13]. The direct use of FDCA in the industry is difficult due to its low solubility in most commonly used solvents.…”

“…For this reason, the development of catalytic systems that are capable of producing FDMC directly from the HMF has received much attention today. One alternative is the production of FDCA can be obtained from furoic acid (furfural oxidation product) via the Henkel reaction [13]. However, the use of Au catalysts can also be a viable alternative.…”

“…Titania, ceria, and zirconia were studied by different research groups; however, Signoretto et al revealed that the performance of catalysts in the absence of a base followed the order: Au/ZrO 2 > Au/CeO 2 >> Au/TiO 2 [30].Catalysts 2019, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 14 interest for the polymer industry because their derivatives can be used as C6 monomers to replace petrochemical monomers [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. For example, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a monomer in the production of polyethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate (PEF), being a green alternative to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [11][12][13]. The direct use of FDCA in the industry is difficult due to its low solubility in most commonly used solvents.…”

“…However, the use of Au catalysts can also be a viable alternative. FDCA can be obtained from furoic acid (furfural oxidation product) via the Henkel reaction [13]. Recently, Au catalysts have been successfully applied for the oxidative esterification of alcohols [14][15][16][17] and they have also been explored for the esterification of furfural and HMF [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

New (and Old) Monomers from Biorefineries to Make Polymer Chemistry More Sustainable

“…The conversion of HMF to FDCA was performed using nano‐Au to MnO 2 to heteropolyacid catalysis, but as a biomonomer also by microbial oxidation. [ 8,32,65–75 ]…”