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Title: Molecular structure, morphology and growth mechanisms and rates of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) derived humins

Journal Article · · Green Chemistry
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/C5GC01938A· OSTI ID:1386780

We apply ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) experiments to investigate the molecular structure, morphology and growth mechanism of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) derived humins as a function of HMF conversion. Our FTIR data support a reaction pathway in which humins form either through a ring opening mechanism and/or through substitution at the α or β position via nucleophilic attack. The addition of DMSO as a co-solvent leads to significant changes in the FTIR spectra of humins. We find that the nucleophilic attack pathway is suppressed in the presence of DMSO co-solvent and rationalizes the very small humin particles (~100 nm) observed in SEM images contrary to the large particles (with multimodal size distribution and largest particles of up to 3–4 μm) observed in neat water. DLS experiments under several reaction conditions further confirm the particle size distribution observed via SEM. A plausible reaction network for humin formation, which rationalizes qualitatively our experimental results as well as those reported in the literature, is also postulated.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001004
OSTI ID:
1386780
Journal Information:
Green Chemistry, Vol. 18, Issue 7; Related Information: CCEI partners with the University of Delaware (lead); Brookhaven National Laboratory; California Institute of Technology; Columbia University; University of Delaware; Lehigh University; University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of Minnesota; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; University of Pennsylvania; Princeton University; Rutgers University; ISSN 1463-9262
Publisher:
Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 216 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Acid‐Catalysed Conversion of Carbohydrates into Furan‐Type Molecules in Zinc Chloride Hydrate journal March 2019
Catalytic Hydrotreatment of Humins to Bio‐Oil in Methanol over Supported Metal Catalysts journal September 2018
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Humins from Biorefineries as Thermoreactive Macromolecular Systems journal November 2018
Examining Acid Formation During the Selective Dehydration of Fructose to 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural in Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Water journal April 2019
A Systematic Study of Metal Triflates in Catalytic Transformations of Glucose in Water and Methanol: Identifying the Interplay of Brønsted and Lewis Acidity journal April 2019
When Will 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural, the “Sleeping Giant” of Sustainable Chemistry, Awaken? journal May 2019
Manipulating the Optical Properties of Carbon Dots by Fine‐Tuning their Structural Features journal September 2019
Solvent Effects on Degradative Condensation Side Reactions of Fructose in Its Initial Conversion to 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural journal October 2019
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Solid residue and by-product yields from acid-catalysed conversion of poplar wood to levulinic acid journal December 2019
Enhanced HMF yield from glucose with H-ZSM-5 catalyst in water-tetrahydrofuran/2-butanol/2-methyltetrahydrofuran biphasic systems journal November 2019
Efficient metal-free conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using a boronic acid journal December 2018
Formation of humins during degradation of carbohydrates and furfural derivatives in various solvents journal April 2019
Understanding the influence of biomass particle size and reaction medium on the formation pathways of hydrochar journal August 2019
Kinetic study on the impact of acidity and acid concentration on the formation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), humins, and levulinic acid in the hydrothermal conversion of fructose journal September 2019
Microwave effects in the dilute acid hydrolysis of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural journal May 2018
Selective glucose conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) instead of levulinic acid with MIL-101Cr MOF-derivatives journal January 2016
Process analytical technology (PAT) applied to biomass valorisation: a kinetic study on the multiphase dehydration of xylose to furfural journal January 2016
Direct catalytic conversion of glucose and cellulose journal January 2018
An integrated process for the production of 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran and its polymer from fructose journal January 2018
Mechanism and theory of d -glucopyranose homogeneous acid catalysis in the aqueous solution phase journal January 2019
Accelerated decarbonylation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in compressed carbon dioxide: a facile approach journal January 2018
Selective and metal-free oxidation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-diformylfuran over nitrogen-doped carbon materials journal January 2018
Catalytic conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using zirconium-containing metal–organic frameworks using microwave heating journal January 2018
Phosphorus pentoxide/metal chloride mediated efficient and facile catalytic conversion of fructose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural journal January 2018
Efficient conversion of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using a bifunctional Fe 3+ modified Amberlyst-15 catalyst journal January 2019
The role of the molecular formula of ZnCl 2 · n H 2 O on its catalyst activity: a systematic study of zinc chloride hydrates in the catalytic valorisation of cellulosic biomass journal January 2019
Cross-linked polyfuran networks with elastomeric behaviour based on humins biorefinery by-products journal January 2019
Sulfonated graphitic carbon nitride as a highly selective and efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the conversion of biomass-derived saccharides to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in green solvents journal January 2019
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Figures / Tables (11)