Catalytic Design for the Conversion of Fructose to 2,5 – Furandicarboxylic Acid

Carbohydrates are promising bio-feedstocks to synthesize functionalized compounds. The US Department of Energy identified seven compounds with a high oxygen to carbon ratio as alternatives to sugar fermentation to ethanol. Transition metals oxidehydrate fructose to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a monomer for green plastic (polyethylenfuranoate). The aim of this project is to develop a micro-fluidized bed process that converts fructose to FDCA. Applying WO3/TiO2 catalyst yielded of
22% to furfural and 15% to diformyl furan. Assessing Mn-TiO2, C-TiO2 catalyst in the process is one of the targets of this project. Screening tests will determine the most important parameters to improve the yield.

Faculty Supervisor:

Gregory Scott Patience

Student:

Partner:

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Advanced Manufacturing; Energy and Utilities; Clean Technology

University:

Polytechnique Montréal

Program: