Gabriel Fraga, Luqman Atanda and Darryn Rackemann
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; d.rackemann@qut.edu.au
Advances in the conversion of sugarcane bagasse into 5-chloromethylfurfural (CMF) as a platform chemical for biofuels and bioplastics are presented. Two-stage sequential processing strategies were examined to determine the impact on yields of CMF and furfural and ease to facilitate downstream conversion to more valuable chemical applications. Experimental results indicate that high hydrochloric acid (HCl) concentrations (>37%) are necessary for efficient cellulose hydrolysis at low temperatures, with HCl offering advantages over other mineral acids due to its volatility and ease of separation. Different purification strategies were evaluated to address different types of impurities, improving CMF recovery and refining its quality for downstream applications. High-purity CMF (>90%) was produced using straightforward purification techniques, with furfural being the primary impurity. High-purity CMF is required for subsequent conversion into bioplastics. Despite challenges in scaling up biomass conversion processes, particularly in solid-liquid separation and product recovery, the volatile solvent and catalyst system in CMF synthesis facilitate efficient separation and recycling. These findings highlight the potential of CMF as a versatile platform chemical for advancing the bioeconomy and providing new product pathways and revenues for the sugar industry.