CrCl36H2O and boric acid as a new catalytic system: Enhanced 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production from cellulose under milder conditions

Here, we present a new catalytic system to produce 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from cellulose under milder conditions (<140 C). A high 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) yield of 45 mol% was achieved by direct hydrolysis, isomerization, and dehydration of cellulose in [BMIM]Cl at 120 C for 2 h with the presence of CrCl36H2O as the catalyst. The optimized ratio of CrCl36H2O/boric acid was determined to be 10/50 mol% based on cellulose loading. We also found that when the reaction time was increased it would reduce HMF production and lead to the formation of levulinic acid and formic acid. Copyright ? 2016 American Scientific Publishers.