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Insight into Fructose Dehydration over Lewis Acid α‐Cu 2 P 2 O 7 Catalyst
Author(s) -
Innoi Orrasa,
Daorattanachai Pornlada,
Rungnim Chompoonut,
Prasitnok Kongvit,
Rungtaweevoranit Bunyarat,
Faungnawakij Kajornsak,
Khemthong Pongtanawat
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chemnanomat
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 2199-692X
DOI - 10.1002/cnma.202000634
Subject(s) - catalysis , lewis acids and bases , calcination , chemistry , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , dehydration reaction , fructose , inorganic chemistry , infrared spectroscopy , bifunctional , pyridine , x ray absorption spectroscopy , dehydration , nuclear chemistry , absorption spectroscopy , organic chemistry , chemical engineering , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Key information on direct conversion of fructose into 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) over Lewis acid sites was investigated by combining experimental and computational studies. A series of alpha‐copper pyrophosphate (α‐Cu 2 P 2 O 7 ) was synthesized and used as a heterogeneous catalyst model for bifunctional acid‐catalyzed fructose dehydration under hot compressed water at mild temperature. Structural and phase transformations of the catalyst samples were systematically characterized by in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (in situ XAS), X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The type of acidic site was verified by in situ pyridine‐adsorbed Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (in situ Py‐FTIR). Results revealed that calcination temperature greatly impacted microstructure, acid strength, and activity of the α‐Cu 2 P 2 O 7 catalysts. Lewis acid sites showed the main activity on α‐Cu 2 P 2 O 7 catalyst surfaces. Catalytic performance was strongly dependent on reaction temperature and reaction time. Under optimal reaction condition, the calcined sample at 900 °C exhibited the best catalytic performance with 5‐HMF production yield of 42.0%. Results from density functional theory (DFT) revealed that fructose dehydration over α‐Cu 2 P 2 O 7 catalyst was enhanced by increasing reaction thermodynamics via Lewis acid sites.