Selectively convert fructose to furfural or hydroxymethylfurfural on Beta zeolite: The manipulation of solvent effects

The selective synthesis of furfural or hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from fructose on single catalyst (Beta zeolite, Hβ) is challenging task. However, in this study, selectivity of Hβ zeolite was discovered easily to tune by solvent effects. Strong solvent effects on the selectivity of fructose conversion were observed in different manners depending on the solvent used. It was shown that the coordinated state of framework aluminum, induced by solvent effects, has a major impact on the selectivity. The solvents with amide group were discovered to induce the reversible tetrahedral-octahedral framework aluminum transformation, but the configuration of aluminum was no influenced by other solvents such as γ-butyrolactone (GBL). Compared with other solvents, the GBL was not able to enhance turnover frequency (TOF) value of reaction but also suppress the degradation of furfural. Interestingly, a considerable yield of furfural (50.25%) was obtained combined with tetrahedral and octahedral framework aluminum active sites in GBL, while high selectivity of HMF (83.3%) was achieved in presence of single tetrahedral framework aluminum over Hβ in NMP.