Automatic Lab scale equipment for continuous HMF production in biphasic systems

Abstract

An automatic lab scale equipment for continuous HMF production by the dehydration of fructose with homogeneous catalysis in biphasic systems (water solution - MIBK) was designed, manufactured and tested. The dependencies of the HMF yield on the process parameters were studied. The feed rate of fructose varied from 50 to 100 g·h−1, the extractant (MIBK) flow rate from 0.5 to 1.4 L·h−1 and the process temperature was maintained in the range from 50 to 87 °C. The maximum productivity of the automatic lab scale equipment 33.6 g·h−1 with a high HMF yield 48 % is achieved with the following process parameters - 87 °C, the fructose feed rate 100 g·h−1 and the extractant flow rate 1 L·h−1. This automatic lab scale equipment may be prospectively used for the kilogram scale HMF synthesis.