Direct transformation of biomass-derived platform compound 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) represents a highly attractive route with significant environmental and economic benefits. The nanozymes with oxidase-like (OXD-like) activity hold great promise for the green oxidation of HMF to FDCA. Herein, an iridium-coated γ-Fe2O3 core-shell nanozyme (γ-Fe2O3@Ir) was prepared by the reduction of Ir3+ with glycerol on the surface of γ-Fe2O3, and the structure of the γ-Fe2O3@Ir nanozyme was confirmed by XRD, HAADF-STEM image, and elemental line-scan analyses results. The magnetic property of the nanozyme not only facilitates its recovery but also effectively enhances its affinity to oxygen. By employing γ-Fe2O3@Ir nanozyme as the catalyst and atmospheric oxygen as a green oxidant, a near-quantitative conversion (98.5%) of molar level HMF to FDCA was achieved.
Zhou et al. (2026) studied this question.