Biocatalytic Upgrading of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) with Levulinic Acid to HMF Levulinate in Biomass-Derived Solvents

Valorization of biomass-based platform chemicals into high value-added products has attracted increasing attention recently. In this work, upgrading of 5-hydroxymethylfurfual (HMF) and levulinic acid, two important biomass-based platform chemicals, to HMF levulinate via a green and efficient enzymatic approach was reported. Novozym 435 was found to be the best biocatalyst for the enzymatic esterification. The enzymatic esterification progressed smoothly in t-butanol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, and cyclopentyl methyl ether as well as in the ecofriendly biomass-derived 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF), while no enzymatic reaction occurred in deep eutectic solvents. When HMF concentration was up to 500 mM, a good conversion of 72% was achieved in 2-MeTHF. The reaction temperature exerted a significant effect on the enzymatic esterification. When the reaction temperature is below 40 °C, high HMF conversions (>85%) were obtained. Besides, significant inactivation of the enzyme was observed at more than 50 °C, resulting in poor conversions.