Glucose reactions with acid and base catalysts in hot compressed water at 473 K Original Research Article

The effects of the homogeneous catalysts (H2SO4 and NaOH) and heterogeneous catalysts (TiO2 and ZrO2) on glucose reactions were examined in hot compressed water (473 K) by a batch-type reactor. From the homogeneous catalyst studies, we confirmed that the acid catalyst promoted dehydration, while isomerization of glucose to fructose was catalyzed by alkali. Anatase TiO2 was found to act as an acid catalyst to promote formation of 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde (HMF). Zirconia (ZrO2) was a base catalyst to promote the isomerization of glucose. The effects of the additives were also confirmed through fructose reactions.