The synthesis of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) from cellulose via a two-step process was investigated. To optimize reaction conditions, the separate conversion of cellulose and glucose was first performed in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) via a one-step process using hosphotungstic acid (PHA) as catalyst. The direct conversion of cellulose to HMF was then performed via the two-step process.
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