Efficient and Selective Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Reduction of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan using Water as the Hydrogen Source

Journal Article · Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2016 · ACS Catalysis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5b02586· OSTI ID:1238299

Roylance, John J. ^[1]; Kim, Tae Woo ^[1]; Choi, Kyoung-Shin ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

Reductive biomass conversion has been conventionally conducted using H₂ gas under high-temperature and-pressure conditions. Here, efficient electrochemical reduction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a key intermediate for biomass conversion, to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), an important monomer for industrial processes, was demonstrated using Ag catalytic electrodes. This process uses water as the hydrogen source under ambient conditions and eliminates the need to generate and consume H₂ for hydrogenation, providing a practical and efficient route for BHMF production. By systematic investigation of HMF reduction on the Ag electrode surface, BHMF production was achieved with the Faradaic efficiency and selectivity nearing 100%, and plausible reduction mechanisms were also elucidated. Furthermore, construction of a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) composed of an n-type BiVO₄ semiconductor anode, which uses photogenerated holes for water oxidation, and a catalytic Ag cathode, which uses photoexcited electrons from BiVO₄ for the reduction of HMF to BHMF, was demonstrated to utilize solar energy to significantly decrease the external voltage necessary for HMF reduction. This shows the possibility of coupling electrochemical HMF reduction and solar energy conversion, which can provide more efficient and environmentally benign routes for reductive biomass conversion.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0008707
• OSTI ID: 1238299
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1438050
• Journal Information: ACS Catalysis, Journal Name: ACS Catalysis Vol. 6 Journal Issue: 3; ISSN 2155-5435
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
09 BIOMASS FUELS
2
5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan
5-hydroxymethylfurfural
aldehyde reduction
biomass conversion
electrochemical hydrogenation
photoelectrochemical cell
solar biomass conversion