OPTIMIZATION OF EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR THE CATALYTIC-OXIDATION OF FURFURAL TO FUROIC ACID

Oxidation of furfural in a stream of oxygen in aqueous alkaline medium in the presence of a lead-platinum catalyst leads to the formation of furan 2-carboxylic acid. The influence of five factors was studied us ing a Doehlert matrix. The analysis of the areas of responses allowed the optimal operating conditions to be determined: platinum metal mass /furfural mass introduced x 100: 1.7%; lead diacetate mass/platinum on carbon mass: 20%; initial furfural concentration 0.8 M; temperature 5 5 degrees C. After 1 h of reaction, the whole of the furfural is then selectively transformed into furoic acid.