Insight on the factors influencing the selective oxidation of furfural to furoic acid on heterogeneous catalysts

The aim of this project was to study the factors influencing furfural selective oxidation to 2-furoic acid, specially the influence of the acidic-basic properties of the supports used. The research was focalized to work in a base-free system and without the utilization of any organic solvent. The oxidation reactions were conducted in green conditions, using water as solvent, oxygen to oxidize and gold heterogeneous catalysts. In details, different gold catalysts were prepared and tested in the base-free system. The aim of our research project was firstly to produce 2-furoic acid with very high selectivity that has many applications in the pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, flavors and fragrances industries. Furthermore, using catalytic systems that can allow the ring opening, it is also possible to obtain maleic acid that is also a very interesting oxidation product of furfural.