Sulfonic and amine functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes, so-called MWNTSO3H and MWNT-NH2, have been successfully used for the integrated isomerization/dehydration reaction converting glucose into 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
(HMF) in Emulsion system. The reactions were carried out in biphasic batch reactor under 300 psig nitrogen pressure and 150 !C. MWNT-NH2, a basic catalyst, promotes the isomerization of glucose into fructose, which can be converted further into HMF by MWNT-SO3H, an acid catalyst. We found that HMF can be produced in good selectivity using MWNT-NH2/MWNT-SO3H without the decomposition products of HMF observed. The products were analyzed by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The catalyst characterization results by Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA-MS) indicate the catalyst stability up to 250°C.
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