Decomposition of Cellulose to Produce 5-Hydroxymethyl-Furaldehyde in Subcritical Water

摘要

A method for decomposition of cellulose to produce 5-hydroxymethyl-furaldehyde (5- HMF) in subcritical water-carbon dioxide binary system was proposed. A series of experiments were performed in a batch reaction vessel. Main products of the decomposition of cellulose are 5-HMF, furfural, levulinic acid and 1, 2, 4-benzenetriol.The optimum condition for the preparation of 5-HMF was found as 523.15 K, 5.0% carbon dioxide mole fraction, and 30 min reaction time. The addition of carbon dioxide to water conduced to the decomposition of cellulose to 5-HMF. As can be seen from the distribution of the prod-ucts, the decomposition mechanism of cellulose is similar to the hydrothermal reaction of D-glucose and D-fructose.