Oxidation of 5-HMF Catalyzed by N-Doped Carbon-Supported Non-Noble Metal Catalysts

2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is an exceptionally promising biodegradable alternative to petroleum-derived terephthalic acid. The synthesis of FDCA from biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has attracted significant attention. Herein, we report a straightforward method for synthesizing N-doped carbon-supported metal/metal phosphide catalysts developed using solid grinding techniques followed by pyrolysis. The synergistic effects of metal alloys and metal phosphides significantly influenced the product selectivity. The optimized catalyst (FeP-Co_0.2/NC) achieved a remarkable FDCA yield of 91.6% with complete HMF conversion at 150 °C for 24 h, using water as the solvent and O₂ as the oxidant. This study presents a sustainable and efficient approach for FDCA production. This discovery represents a sustainable method for producing FDCA with a high yield by employing environmentally friendly solvents and oxidizers.