PREPARATION OF 5-HYDROXYMETHYLFURFURAL (HMF) FROM HEXOSE SOLUTIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF STEAM

摘要

A process for preparing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), characterized in that a) solutions (called starting solution hereinafter) comprising a hexose and an organic solvent having a boiling point greater than 200°C (at standard pressure) (called high boilers for short) and steam are supplied to a reaction vessel, b) a conversion of the hexose to HMF in the presence of steam with simultaneous distillative removal of the HMF is effected in the reaction vessel and c) the distillate obtained is an aqueous, HMF-containing solution (called distillate hereinafter).