HMF Production via Enzymatic Conversion of Glucose and Fructose and the Use of ILs to Catalyze Fructose to HMF 2014-136

APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:

• Biobased fuel and chemical production

ABSTRACT:

The production of fuels and chemicals from lignocellulose-derived 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) is important to the biobased fuel and chemical industry because HMF can be further converted to C₉-C₁₅ alkanes, 2,5-dimethylfuran, ethyl levulinate, 5-(alkoxymethyl)furfurals, and 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furans.

Researchers at Berkeley Lab’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have developed a technology to process a lignocellulosic derivative by converting fructose to HMF by introducing an ionic liquid to fructose. The method may further include, prior to converting the fructose to HMF, enzymatically converting glucose to the fructose.

For details about this technology, read published U. S. Patent Application 14/970,965 (Pub. No. US 2016/0176838).

STATUS: Published U. S. Patent Application 14/970,965 (Pub. No. US 2016/0176838). Available for licensing or collaborative research.

SEE RELATED TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS FIELD:

Metal-organic Frameworks for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Derivatives to Renewable Platform Chemicals such as HMF, 2014-138