Furfural, Biofine process

The Biofine process produces levulinic acid, furfural and formic acid from lignocellulose in a two-step process using dilute sulfuric acid as a catalyst [45], The first step depolymerises the polysaccharides and converts the resulting 6-carbon sugars into hydroxymethylfurfural by a dehydration reaction at 210-220 °C and 25 bar. The second step converts hydroxymethylfurfural to the products at 190-200 °C and 14 bar (Scheme 1). 

Hayes, D.J., Fitzpatrick, S.W., Hayes, M.H.B., and Ross, J.R.H. (2005) The biofine process - production of levulinic acid, furfural, and formic acid from lignocellulosic feedstocks, in Eiorefineries Industrial Processes and Products, vol. 1 (eds B. Kamm, P.R. Gruber, and M. Kamm), Wiley, Weinheim, Germany, pp. 139-164. 

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