An innovative phosphated ZrSi Laponite as a solid acid catalyst for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production from fructose

The dehydration of fructose is a crucial chemical process for synthesizing valuable chemicals and biofuels. This work explored an attractive strategy for harnessing lignocellulosic biomass through the catalytic conversion of fructose, yielding valuable 5–hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) chemicals and biofuels. Sustainable and cost–effective methodologies for crafting catalysts via Laponite (Lap) modification to facilitate fructose transformation into HMF within a biphasic system comprising aqueous NaCl and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were examined. The phosphated Zr–grafted Si–enriched Lap (P/Zr–SiLap), as a solid acid catalyst, was synthesized through multiple straightforward steps involving mesoporous silica formation, Zr atom incorporation, and phosphation of pristine Lap. The P/Zr–SiLap catalyst proved to be a most promising catalyst, achieving an optimized HMF yield of 78.4% at 150 °C with a turnover frequency (TOF) for HMF production of 2.8 × 10−5 h−1. Evaluation of the P/Zr–SiLap demonstrated the catalyst's robust endurance, ensuring its high potential for efficient recyclability. The enhanced HMF yield (%) attributable to the P/Zr–SiLap catalyst was systematically correlated with its structure–activity relationship, which was elucidated through various advanced analytical techniques.