Catalytic dehydration of fructose to HMF over sulfonic acid functionalized periodic mesoporous organosilicas: role of the acid density

Abstract

Here, we reported the catalytic efficiency of sulfonic acid functionalized periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) materials with crystal-like pore walls in the dehydration of fructose to HMF in water. We found that the proton loading, the localization of acid sites and the surface hydrophobicity played a crucial role in the PMO activity.