title: Cyclopentyl methyl ether: a green co-solvent for the selective dehydration of lignocellulosic pentoses to furfural.
abstract: The effects of cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) addition during the aqueous xylose dehydration reaction to furfural are reported here. These investigations were conducted by using pure xylose and Cynara cardunculus (cardoon) lignocellulose as sugar source and H(2)SO(4) as catalyst. The research was also applied to aqueous solutions containing NaCl, since it has been previously demonstrated that NaCl incorporation to these reaction mixtures remarkably increases the furfural formation rate. It has been found that CPME incorporation inhibits the formation of undesired products (resins, condensation products and humins). Thus, cardoon lignocellulosic pentoses were selectively transformed into furfural (near 100%) at the following reaction conditions: 1 wt.% H(2)SO(4), 4 wt.% biomass referred to aqueous solution, 30 min reaction, 443 K, CPME/aqueous phase mass ratio equals to 2.33, and NaCl/aqueous solution mass ratio of 0.4. In contrast, no effect was observed for cellulosic glucose transformation into hydroxymethylfurfural and levulinic acid at identical reaction conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry (CSIC), C/Marie Curie 2, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Campos Molina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mariscal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López Granados
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031942:Cynara / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004987:Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods*; D006601:Hexoses / Q000378:metabolism; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012997:Solvents; D013696:Temperature; D014994:Xylose / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003517:Cyclopentanes; D004987:Ethers; D006601:Hexoses; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D012997:Solvents; C036909:lignocellulose; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008031:Lignin; D014994:Xylose; D005662:Furaldehyde