CONVERSION OF FRUCTOSE-CONTAINING FEEDSTOCKS TO HMF-CONTAINING PRODUCT

摘要

The present invention relates generally to processes for converting fructose-containing feedstocks to a product comprising 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and water in the presence of water, solvent and an acid catalyst. In some embodiments, the conversion of fructose to HMF is controlled at a partial conversion endpoint characterized by a yield of HMF from fructose that does not exceed about 80 mol %. In these and other embodiments, the processes provide separation techniques for separating and recovering the product, unconverted fructose, solvent and acid catalyst to enable the effective recovery and reutilization of reaction components.

主权项

1. A process for the production of a product comprising 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and water, the process comprising:
combining fructose, water, an acid catalyst and a first solvent in a reaction zone; converting in the reaction zone fructose to HMF and water and to intermediates to HMF to a partial conversion endpoint, wherein the yield of HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint does not exceed about 80 mol %; removing from the reaction zone, as a combination, at least a portion of the product, unconverted fructose and the first solvent, wherein the conversion of fructose to HMF in the combination removed from the reaction zone is quenched at the partial conversion endpoint; separating at least a portion of each of the first solvent, the product and unconverted fructose in the combination removed from the reaction zone from one another; recycling at least a portion of the separated unconverted fructose and at least a portion of the separated first solvent to the reaction zone; and recovering the product.