Base Catalysts for efficient Isomerisation of Glucose – BISOGLU2

Transition from fossil resources to renewable feedstocks is accompanied by re-design of the existing product value chains. Isomerization of D-glucose into D-fructose remains the focus of intensive research in the recent years. Dehydration of D-fructose into 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, a promising platform chemical, opens routes for manufacture of renewable fuels and chemicals. Nowadays, D-fructose is produced biotechnologically, though a chemocatalytic route potentially exhibits economic benefits. This joint project focuses on fundamental understanding of the catalytic isomerization in the presence of bases aiming at a rational design of an efficient and inexpensive catalyst.
We aim at development of highly active, selective, and stable base catalyst for isomerization of D-glucose into D-fructose. Our preliminary results suggest outstanding performance of soluble phosphates as catalysts for this reaction. In this project, the focus will be placed on molecular understanding the catalysis by soluble phosphate as well as heterogenization of the phosphate catalysts to facilitate catalyst separation. Insight into mechanisms, reaction networks, and kinetics in the presence of phosphate catalysts will be gained. Based on the obtained data, a continuous isomerization process for efficient catalytic production of D-fructose will be developed.
Catalytic performance of soluble phosphate catalysts and their solid analogues will be comparatively studied. Novel phosphate catalysts will be prepared, characterized, and tested for the isomerization. Experimental studies will include kinetic investigations; studies of the reaction mechanism using labeled substrates; operando NMR, Raman, FTIR, and ATR-IR experiments; isomerization under batch and continuous conditions; understanding structure-performance correlations; as well as insight into catalyst deactivation mechanisms and development of regeneration procedures. Experimental work will be combined with ab initio computations to get further insight into the reaction mechanism.
We expect highly innovative results owing to a unique combination of expertise from Austria (experimental exploration of the reaction) and France (preparation of materials and computational studies). A majority of the proposed experimental approaches will be implemented for the first time and are thus highly original.