One-pot synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural directly from starch over /ZrO2–Al2O3 solid catalyst

The synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) directly from starch was studied in dimethyl sulfoxide–water. The effects of catalyst variation, reaction time, water content, catalyst loading and temperature on the reaction were investigated. The SO 4 2 - /ZrO2–Al2O3 catalyst was found to act as a bifunctional catalyst with high activity for both hydrolysis and dehydration of starch. HMF yield of 55% was obtained after 6 h at 423 K for the reaction of starch (the molar ratio of water to glucose in starch is 44/1) over the SO 4 2 - /ZrO2–Al2O3 catalyst, which bears high acidity and moderate basicity with Zr/Al molar ratio of 1:1.