Recent advances in thermocatalytic conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a key monomer for production of next-generation polyesters such as poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF) and poly(trimethylene furanoate) (PTF), can be derived from the biomass-based platform molecule of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), offering a promising route for biomass valorization. Over the past decades, thermocatalytic oxidation of HMF has been extensively investigated for FDCA production. While this approach presents notable advantages, it also faces challenges related to reaction condition, selectivity, energy consumption, catalyst stability, and scalability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of thermocatalytic processes for HMF oxidation to FDCA. It highlights recent advances in catalyst and process developments, elucidates mechanisms and reaction pathways, and critically assesses the opportunities and limitations associated with these systems. Furthermore, the feasibility and progress toward industrial implementation of HMF-to-FDCA conversion are discussed. The perspectives presented herein aim to support the rational design of catalysts and processes, guide future research in thermocatalytic HMF-to-FDCA conversion, and accelerate the translation of these technologies into industrial applications.