Production of 5-Ethoxymethylfurfural from Glucose Using Bifunctional Catalysts

Abstract

5-Ethoxymethylfurfural (5-EMF) is a promising liquid fuel or fuel additive due to its high energy density and stability. The conversion of glucose to 5-EMF involves a three-step tandem reaction: isomerization, dehydration, and etherification. However, low catalytic efficiency in these steps has limited 5-EMF yields. To address this, a Fe/ZSM-5 bifunctional catalyst with both Brønsted and Lewis acid sites was developed and characterized using XRD, SEM, XPS, BET, Py-FTIR, and NH₃-TPD techniques. The catalyst’s performance in glucose conversion was systematically evaluated. Optimal conditions—20 wt% Fe loading, 180 °C reaction temperature, 10 h reaction time, and a catalyst-to-glucose mass ratio of 1:1—resulted in 97.1% glucose conversion and a 38.4% 5-EMF yield. Reaction kinetics followed a first-order model with an activation energy of 32.6 kJ/mol. The catalyst maintained over 94% glucose conversion after five cycles, demonstrating its stability. These findings underscore the potential of the Fe/ZSM-5 bifunctional catalyst for efficient glucose valorization to 5-EMF and provide key insights for process optimization.