Transformation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furan carboxylic acid mediated by silver nanoparticles biosynthesized from Spartium junceum flower extract

Abstract

The central idea of this study is to develop a green, efficient, and simple method for producing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using Spartium junceum flower extract. The extract contains phenolic hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups that enhance the adsorption of silver ions and their subsequent reduction to Ag NPs in situ. The synthesis of Ag NPs using this method offers a new environmentally friendly approach that the prepared nanoparticles exhibit high catalytic activity in the conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) into the more valuable chemical 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furan carboxylic acid (HMFCA). The study investigates the parameters for HMFCA synthesis, including solvent, reaction temperature, reaction time, catalyst amount, base, and oxidant, using Ag NPs. The Ag NPs was characterized by various techniques such as FESEM, XRD, TEM, UV–Vis, and DLS. The results demonstrated that under optimal conditions, a yield of 98 % for HMFCA and a conversion rate of 99 % for 5-HMF were achieved at a temperature of 40 ◦C and a reaction time of 1 h. Furthermore, our catalytic system exhibited the ability to be reused for at least 12 cycles.