Selective Hydrogenation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan by Pt/Ni@C Catalyst

The development of biodegradable materials from biomass is a crucial strategy for leveraging biomass resources. A key component in this process is 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), a significant biomass-derived platform chemical. However, producing BHMF with high selectivity through the selective hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, while avoiding the creation of unwanted byproducts, is a complex challenge. In our research, we have developed a novel catalyst featuring a magnetic core. This catalyst, which consists of platinum loaded onto a graphene-like shell, has been applied to the catalytic hydrogenation of HMF in an aqueous environment. Under the optimized conditions of 373 K, 3 MPa H₂, and 1 h reaction time, a BHMF yield exceeding 99% was achieved. This method presents a promising and effective approach for the high-value conversion of biomass waste into polymer materials and pharmaceutical chemicals.