| CPC C07D 307/68 (2013.01) [B01J 23/462 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
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1. A process for the synthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) comprising the steps of:
1) oxidising an aqueous solution of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the presence of molecular oxygen, of a heterogeneous catalyst comprising ruthenium and of a strong base at a temperature above 100° C., obtaining a reaction product in aqueous solution comprising a salt of FDCA acid;
2) separating said heterogeneous catalyst from said reaction product in aqueous solution,
3) re-using said heterogeneous catalyst in the oxidation reaction in step 1),
wherein said heterogeneous catalyst comprising ruthenium is selected from the group consisting of supported ruthenium, supported ruthenium oxides, supported ruthenium hydroxides, unsupported ruthenium hydroxides and mixtures thereof,
wherein, for the supported catalysts, the support is selected from the group consisting of carbon, non-metal oxides, functionalised graphite and combinations thereof;
wherein the pH is maintained from 6.5 to 9 during the oxidation in step 1).
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