Characterization of the soluble products formed during the hydrothermal conversion of biomass-derived furanic compounds by using LC-MS/MS

Abstract

To reveal the hydrothermal conversion routes of the biomass-derived furanic compounds, the soluble products formed during the hydrothermal conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), furfural, and furfuryl alcohol were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and LC-MS/MS. Multiple carbocyclic compounds containing hydroxy group and carbonyl group were detected, with a molecular mass in the range of 154-272 Da and carbon chain of the length 8-15. The formation of these soluble carbocyclic compounds was proposed to involve hydrolytic ring-opening of the furanic ring, intermolecular aldol condensation, intramolecular aldol condensation, and C-C cleavage reaction. The C-C cleavage reaction was proposed to occur on the dicarbonyl structure of the formed primary polymers.