Conversion of fructose-containing feedstocks to HMF-containing product

1. A process for the production of a product comprising 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and water, the process comprising:

combining fructose, water, an acid catalyst and a first solvent in a reaction zone;

converting in the reaction zone fructose to HMF and water to a partial conversion endpoint, wherein

(1) the yield of HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint does not exceed about 80 mol % and is not less than about 30 mol %;

(2) the sum of i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 90 mol %; and

(3) the reaction zone is maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 80° C. to 180° C.;

removing from the reaction zone a combination comprising at least a portion of the product, unconverted fructose and the first solvent, wherein the conversion of fructose to HMF in the combination removed from the reaction zone is quenched at the partial conversion endpoint;

separating at least a portion of each of the first solvent, the product and unconverted fructose in the combination removed from the reaction zone from one another;

recycling at least a portion of the separated unconverted fructose and at least a portion of the separated first solvent to one or more reaction zones for the conversion of fructose to HMF and water; and

recovering the product.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the yield of HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is not more than about 70 mol %.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the yield of HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is from about 40 to about 70 mol %.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the acid catalyst comprises a heterogeneous catalyst.

5. The process of claim 4 , wherein the heterogeneous catalyst is selected from the group consisting of acid functionalized resins, acid-functionalized carbons, inorganic oxides, acid functionalized inorganic oxides and combinations thereof.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the acid catalyst comprises a homogeneous catalyst.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the acid catalyst is a homogeneous catalyst.

8. The process of claim 6 , wherein the homogeneous catalyst is selected from the group consisting of mineral acids, organic acids and combinations thereof.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the acid catalyst is selected from the group consisting of HCl, HBr, HI, H 2 SO 4 and combinations thereof.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethers, ketones, hydrocarbons and combinations thereof.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent comprises an ether.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the combination in the reaction zone is mono-phasic.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent removed from the reaction zone and separated from the product is recycled, directly or indirectly, to one or more reaction zones.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the separation of unconverted fructose is effected by a liquid-liquid extraction process comprising contacting a second solvent and at least a portion of the combination in a fructose separator to separate at least a portion of unconverted fructose from the combination.

15. The process of claim 14 , wherein substantially all of the unconverted fructose is separated from the product prior to separation of the first solvent from the product.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein the separations being effected comprise:

separating from the combination at least a portion of the first solvent to produce a separable composition comprising the product and unconverted fructose; and

separating at least a portion of the unconverted fructose from the product in the separable composition.

17. The process of claim 14 , wherein first solvent is separated from the product after separation of unconverted fructose from the product.

18. The process of claim 14 , further comprising separating the acid catalyst from the product, wherein separation of acid catalyst from the product is effected by an anion exchange process subsequent to the liquid-liquid extraction step.

19. The process of claim 14 , wherein the first solvent is polar and the second solvent is essentially non-polar.

20. The process of claim 14 , wherein one phase resulting from the liquid-liquid extraction comprises unconverted fructose and catalyst that is recovered and recycled, directly or indirectly, to one or more reaction zones.

21. The process of claim 1 , wherein the conversion of fructose to HMF is quenched after the partial conversion endpoint is attained by reducing the temperature of the combination.

22. The process of claim 21 , wherein the temperature of the combination is reduced by flash evaporation, contact with a cooling inert gas, mixing with a liquid diluent and/or passage through an indirect heat exchanger.

23. The process of claim 21 , wherein the temperature of the combination is cooled to a temperature below about 60° C. at the partial conversion endpoint to quench the conversion of fructose to HMF.

24. The process of claim 1 , wherein not more than about 8% of fructose is converted to humins.

25. The process of claim 1 , wherein the combination removed from the reaction zone comprises humins and wherein separating at least a portion of each of the first solvent, the product and unconverted fructose in the combination removed from the reaction zone from one another comprises contacting the combination with one or more selective membranes to produce a retentate comprising at least a portion of the humins and a permeate depleted in humins and comprising unconverted fructose, HMF, solvent and water.

26. The process of claim 25 wherein, the selective membrane contacted with the combination removed from the reaction zone comprises an ultra-filtration membrane.

27. The process of claim 25 , wherein the retentate comprises substantially all of the humins contained within the combination removed from the reaction zone.

28. The process of claim 26 , wherein the ultra-filtration membrane permeate is contacted with one or more selective membranes to produce a permeate containing HMF, solvent and water and a retentate containing at least a portion of the unconverted fructose.

29. The process of claim 28 , wherein the selective membrane contacted with the ultra-filtration membrane permeate comprises a nano-filtration membrane.

30. The process of claim 28 wherein the ultra-filtration membrane permeate is combined with a diluent prior to contact with the selective membrane.

31. The process of claim 29 , wherein the nano-filtration retentate comprises substantially all of the unconverted fructose contained within the ultra-filtration membrane permeate.

32. The process of 29 , wherein the nano-filtration retentate is recycled to one or more reaction zones.

33. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction zone is maintained at a temperature in the range of from 100° C. to 160° C.

34. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction zone is maintained at a temperature of 120° C.

35. The process of claim 1 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 5:1 to 2:1 on a mass basis.

36. The process of claim 35 , wherein the first solvent is an alcohol.

37. The process of claim 1 , wherein the combination in the reaction zone is multi-phasic.

38. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethers, hydrocarbons and combinations thereof.

39. The process of claim 11 , wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of diethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether, dimethoxyethane (glyme), bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme), tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and combinations thereof.

40. The process of claim 11 , wherein the first solvent is dioxane.

41. The process of claim 11 , wherein the first solvent is bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme).

42. The process of claim 11 , wherein the first solvent is dimethoxyethane (glyme).

43. The process of claim 1 wherein the first solvent comprises an alcohol selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, 2-butanol, tert-butanol and combinations thereof.

44. The process of claim 25 , wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethers, ketones, hydrocarbons and combinations thereof.

45. The process of claim 25 , wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethers, hydrocarbons and combinations thereof.

46. The process of claim 25 , wherein the first solvent comprises an ether.

47. The process of claim 33 , wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethers, ketones, hydrocarbons and combinations thereof.

48. The process of claim 33 , wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethers, hydrocarbons and combinations thereof.

49. The process of claim 33 , wherein the first solvent comprises an ether.

50. The process of claim 9 , wherein the acid catalyst comprises HBr.

51. The process of claim 9 , wherein the acid catalyst comprises HCl.

52. The process of claim 33 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 95 mol %.

53. The process of claim 52 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 97 mol %.

54. The process of claim 33 , wherein the yield of HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is above 50 mol %.

55. The process of claim 54 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 92 mol %.

56. The process of claim 55 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 95 mol %.

57. The process of claim 56 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 97 mol %.

58. The process of claim 33 , wherein the yield of HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is in the range of from about 40 mol % to about 80 mol %.

59. The process of claim 58 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 95 mol %.

60. The process of claim 59 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 97 mol %.

61. The process of claim 33 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 10:1 to 1:1 on a mass basis.

62. The process of claim 61 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 5:1 to 2:1 on a mass basis.

63. The process of claim 33 , wherein the first solvent is bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme).

64. The process of claim 63 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 10:1 to 1:1 on a mass basis.

65. The process of claim 64 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 5:1 to 2:1 on a mass basis.

66. The process of claim 33 , wherein the first solvent is dioxane.

67. The process of claim 66 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 10:1 to 1:1 on a mass basis.

68. The process of claim 67 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 5:1 to 2:1 on a mass basis.

69. The process of claim 33 , wherein the first solvent is dimethoxyethane (glyme).

70. The process of claim 69 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 10:1 to 1:1 on a mass basis.

71. The process of claim 70 , wherein the amount of first solvent relative to water in the reaction zone is in the range of from 5:1 to 2:1 on a mass basis.

72. The process of claim 58 , wherein the first organic solvent comprises an ether.

73. The process of claim 72 , wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of diethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether, dimethoxyethane (glyme), bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme), tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran and combinations thereof.

74. The process of claim 72 , wherein the first solvent is dioxane.

75. The process of claim 72 , wherein the first solvent is bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme).

76. The process of claim 72 , wherein the first solvent is dimethoxyethane (glyme).

77. The process of claim 72 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 92 mol %.

78. The process of claim 77 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 95 mol %.

79. The process of claim 78 , wherein the sum of (i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 97 mol %.