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Leather‐Promoted Transformation of Glucose into 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural and Levoglucosenone
Author(s) -
Bobbink Felix D.,
Huang Zhangjun,
Menoud Florent,
Dyson Paul J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201802830
Subject(s) - 5 hydroxymethylfurfural , chemistry , transformation (genetics) , organic chemistry , catalysis , chemical engineering , biochemistry , engineering , gene
The search for efficient catalysts frequently leads to new homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts of increasing complexity, and sometimes common, natural, or hybrid natural/synthetic materials that could be used in catalysis are overlooked. For example, the leather industry has produced robust Cr‐containing materials for centuries by chemical treatment of animal hides with chromium salts. Herein, the use of chromium‐tanned leather as a heterogeneous catalyst for glucose dehydration to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) and levoglucosenone (LGO) is reported. Four pieces of waste leather were obtained from shoe soles and a belt, characterized by a range of techniques including FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, BET surface area measurements, XRD, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their catalytic activity was evaluated. The activity of the scrap leather pieces compares favorably to those of many recently reported catalysts for the preparation of 5‐HMF, but additionally results in significant quantities of LGO. Overall, the results demonstrate that waste leather is an outstanding material for use in catalysis.