Selective Oxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐Furandicarboxylic Acid over MnOx‐CeO2 Supported Palladium Nanocatalyst under Aqueous Conditions

Abstract Selective aerobic oxidation of biomass‐derived 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into high value‐added 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is regarded as one of the most attractive biomass transformations due to a wide range of its application prospects, particularly as an important renewable alternative to petroleum‐derived terephthalic acid in the synthesis of useful polymers. Herein, a novel MnO x −CeO 2 (MC) supported palladium catalyst was synthesized and applied for the aerobic oxidation of HMF into FDCA in KHCO 3 aqueous solution. The physical and chemical properties of the obtained catalysts were systematically characterized by TEM, N 2 adsorption and desorption, XRD, TG, XPS, and H 2 ‐TPR characterization methods. And the highest yield of FDCA at 92.5 % was achieved under the optimal reaction conditions. Moreover, regeneration tests revealed the synthesized Pd/MC catalyst can be recovered and reused at least five times without significant loss of catalytic activity. The developed facile reaction system with Pd/MC catalysts offers a new route to large‐scale and economically viable processes for the oxidation of HMF into FDCA.