Pt Nanoparticles on ZSM-5 Nanoparticles for Base-Free Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is considered as a valuable platform chemical derived from abundant sugars in a plant-based biomass. One of the most precious chemicals, which can be derived from HMF, is 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), which is a renewable substituent for petroleum-based terephthalic acid. Herein, the selective oxidation of HMF to FDCA and its derivatives has been accomplished using highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles supported on alkaline-exchanged hierarchical ZSM-5 nanoparticles under mild conditions (110 °C and 2.0 MPa of air) in a base-free aqueous-phase system. Interestingly, a high HMF conversion (100%) with 80% of FDCA selectivity was achieved. The synergetic effect of highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles and an alkaline-exchanged framework plays a key role, wherein they act as active oxidative sites for this multi-oxidation reaction. These findings open up prospects for the development of zeolite-based catalysts for the conversion of HMF to high value-added FDCA and its derivatives in a base-free aqueous system.