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Synthesis of 5-Ethoxymethylfurfural (5-EMF) from Sugars and Lignocellulosic Crop Residue Using Ionic Liquids Differing in Their Cationic Structure

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Abstract

Direct conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (5-EMF); a promising fuel alternative and biofuel additive, is achieved by using acidic ionic liquids (AILs). A number of AILs have been reported to date for biorefinery applications such as dissolution, deconstruction and saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass as well as conversion into platform chemicals such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and levulinic acid. Designing suitable ionic liquid (IL) that is efficient in terms of cost as well as product selectivity is still highly needed. This study is carried out to scrutinize the biomass-to-5-EMF conversion efficiencies of different Brønsted acidic ionic liquids (BAILs) as well as Brønsted Lewis acidic ionic liquids (BLAILs) based on pyridinium (Py), 1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidinium (TMG) cations. Among all tested ILs, chloroaluminate of [DABCO]HSO4 showed the highest fructose to 5-EMF conversion potential. High 5-EMF yields up to 56, 66 and 45% are obtained from fructose using Py, DABCO and TMG based BLAILs under the optimized conditions. Moreover, the competency of the system is further authenticated by processing glucose and wheat husk biomass; 42% 5-EMF is obtained from wheat husk using chlorochromate tethered [Py]HSO4. Product was characterized via HPLC and 1H NMR spectroscopy.

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Supporting data is provided in supporting information file.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, under the NRPU Research Grant, project no. 8639/Punjab/NRPU/R&D/HEC/2017 and TDF Research Grant, Project no. TDF03-294.

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  1. Centre for Research in Ionic Liquids, School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan

    Sadia Naz & Maliha Uroos

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  1. Sadia Naz
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  2. Maliha Uroos
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SN performed the experimental work, validated the analyses data and wrote the manuscript. MU supervised the work and assured the funding and instrumental analyses for the project.

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Correspondence to Maliha Uroos.

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Naz, S., Uroos, M. Synthesis of 5-Ethoxymethylfurfural (5-EMF) from Sugars and Lignocellulosic Crop Residue Using Ionic Liquids Differing in Their Cationic Structure. Waste Biomass Valor 14, 2225–2236 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-022-02010-6

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