Fructose dehydration reaction over functionalized nanographitic catalysts in MIBK/H2O biphasic system

A series of functionalized nanographitic carbons is prepared, characterized and tested in fructose dehydration reaction to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The functionalization treatment was selected to introduce various Brönsted acid sites and to modify the textural and catalytic properties of the initial carbon material. Within the series, the sulfonated carbons present the most interesting catalytic behavior resulting in important selectivity to the desired product once the reaction variables were properly adjusted.Financial support for this work has been obtained from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) (Projects ENE2017-82451-C3-1-R and ENE2017-82451-C3-3-R) co-financed by FEDER funds from the European Union