Oxidized Derivatives of Hydroxymethyl Furfural (HMF)

Technology Marketing SummaryBiorenewable fuels and chemicals are becoming increasingly important as we continue to deplete our petroleum resources. A great deal of effort is being expended in industry and academia to develop chemistries and processes to produce infrastructure-compatible fuels and chemical intermediates from biobased sources that can replace petrochemicals in existing products as well as create new products with useful properties.

Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) derivatives are newly developed biorenewable chemicals that could potentially be used in a broad array of industrial products and chemical manufacturing applications. This potential has long been recognized. Now, several HMF derivatives can be successfully produced via catalytic oxidation.DescriptionHMF oxidation occurs sequentially though several intermediate products. The challenge is to selectively produce a single one—which one depends on the desired application—in preference to all of the others. Methods now have been developed to form the various oxidation products with good selectivities and in high yields using continuous catalytic processes with air as oxidant.Benefits

• Biorenewable source material
• May facilitate production of chemicals with properties similar to terephthalate polymers
• Continuous process capability

Applications and Industries

• Chemical manufacturing
• Surfactants
• Adhesives
• Sealants
• Composites
• Coatings
• Binders
• Casting agents
• Foams
• Curatives
• Monomers
• Resins

Patents and Patent Applications

ID Number	Title and Abstract	Primary Lab	Date
Patent 7,700,788	Hydroxymethyl furfural oxidation methods A method of oxidizing hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) includes providing a starting material which includes HMF in a solvent comprising water into a reactor. At least one of air and O.sub.2 is provided into the reactor. The starting material is contacted with the catalyst comprising Pt on a support material where the contacting is conducted at a reactor temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. A method of producing an oxidation catalyst where ZrO.sub.2 is provided and is calcined. The ZrO.sub.2 is mixed with platinum (II) acetylacetonate to form a mixture. The mixture is subjected to rotary evaporation to form a product. The product is calcined and reduced under hydrogen to form an activated product. The activated product is passivated under a flow of 2% O.sub.2.	Pacific Northwest National Laboratory	04/20/2010 Issued

Technology Status

Technology ID	Development Stage	Availability	Published	Last Updated
15028, 14873	Prototype - Demonstrated at lab scale; opportunity exists for further collaborative research and development	Available - Available for licensing in all fields of use	08/05/2010	09/10/2010