Toward an integrated conversion of glucose/fructose for one-pot production of 2,5-diformylfuran using Fe/Cu loaded in carbon decorated with nitrogen-sulfur

The selective oxidation of biomass-derived carbohydrates into high-value platform chemicals represents a promising avenue for sustainable chemical production. In our work, we explored the catalytic performance of a bimetallic Fe/Cu loaded in carbon decorated with nitrogen-sulfur (Fe/Cu@NSC) in the conversion of fructose/glucose into 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF). The catalyst exhibited remarkable efficiency, particularly with fructose, achieving a peak DFF yield of 61.1% under optimized conditions. In contrast, glucose conversion proved less effective, with a maximum DFF yield of 29.1% at 160 °C for 15   h. Methodical examinations of reaction parameters, such as solvent composition, and reaction time, yielded crucial insights into the determinants of product dispersion and catalytic efficacy. Moreover, reusability evaluations demonstrated a slow reduction in catalytic activity throughout repeated cycles; yet, this negligible fall still affirms the promise of catalysts in green chemistry. In addition, the catalyst structure was evidenced by FTIR, XPS, HRTEM, SEM, BET, ICP-MS, NH 3 -TPD, EDX, elemental mapping analyses, and the thermal stability of the catalyst was evaluated by TGA. These findings underscore the potential of Fe/Cu@NSC as an effective and recyclable catalyst for DFF synthesis while highlighting the necessity for further optimization to enhance its long-term stability and performance.