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

Abstract

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.

Authors:

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

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+ Show Author Affiliations

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

Publication Date:

Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2016

Research Org.:

Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division

OSTI Identifier:

1238299

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1438050

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0008707

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

ACS Catalysis

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: ACS Catalysis Journal Volume: 6 Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 2155-5435

Publisher:

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

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