5-Hydroxymethylfurfurol – Renewable Environment-Friendly Platform for Chemical Processes of 21st Century
Zelinsky Institute in cooperation with Platov South Russian Polytechnic Institute (Novocherassk) supported by the Russian Science Foundation have developed a technology for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfurol (HMF) from bioavailable carbohydrates.
According to ZIOC Director Prof. Mikhail P. Egorov “it is the first Russian R&D for preparation of the critical chemical transformation product. Chemistry of HMF and its derivatives is of key importance for new green technologies inherent in sustainable development. It is very encouraging to witness the revival of national fine organic chemistry with support of RSF grants. It is my pleasure to particularly congratulate Prof. V.P. Ananikov’s team who managed both to publish their findings in top-rated journals and to bring them up to the commercial stage”.
5-Hydroxymethylfurfurol (HMF, 5-HMF) is regarded as one of the most important polyfunctional chemical “compound-platform” reagents that can be sourced from biomass such as hexose carbohydrates and lignocellulose. HMF and its derivatives show promise as an alternative feedstock capable of replacing non-renewable sources of carbon reagents (oil, charcoal and natural gas) in the near future.
HMFs are currently supposed to be useful in production of monomers and polymers, porous carbon materials, motor fuels and solvents, drugs, pesticides, and chemical reagents. It is foreseen that the scope of HMF applications will soon expand and this compound-platform would become a source of hydrogen and oxygen for chemistry of 21st century.
HMF test samples (1-2 g) are available for free for Russian researchers and educators (alab@ioc.ac.ru).