Basicity-Tuned Hydrotalcite-Supported Pd Catalysts for Aerobic Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfural under Mild Conditions

An environmentally benign and homogeneous base-free route for 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) aerobic oxidation to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) in water was reported using Mg–Al–CO3 hydrotalcite-supported Pd nanoparticles (xPd/HT-n) as catalyst. The influences of the Mg/Al molar ratio of hydrotalcite and Pd loading amount on the catalytic performance of these catalysts were originally systematically investigated. These catalysts exhibited excellent catalytic activity and FDCA selectivity in the HMF oxidation, especially for 2%Pd/HT-5 and 2%Pd/HT-6; >99.9% FDCA yields were achieved for 8 h under ambient pressure and homogeneous base-free conditions. The remarkably improved catalytic performance could be attributed to the suitable basicity of the Mg–Al–CO3 hydrotalcite and the abundant OH– groups on the surface of hydrotalcite. The plausible reaction mechanism was proposed based on the results of a series of controlled experiments. Furthermore, these catalysts were quite stable and could be reused at least five times without obvious loss in reaction activity.