| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process forpreparingfuran-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, comprising the following steps: preparing or providing a starting mixture comprising5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF),5,5'-[oxy-bis(methylene)]bis-2-furfural (di-HMF), and water,subjecting said starting mixture to oxidation conditions in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas and a catalytically effective amount of a heterogeneous catalyst comprising one or more noble metals on a support so that both HMF and di-HMF react to give furane-2,5-dicarboxylic acid in a product mixture also comprising water and oxidation by-products. Moreover the present invention relates to the use of a catalyst comprising one or more noble metals on a support as an heterogeneous oxidation catalyst for catalyzing in an aqueous starting mixture the reaction of both HMF and di-HMF to furane-2,5-dicarboxylic acid. |