ElectrochemicalSynthesis of 2,5-FurandicarboxylicAcid from Furfural Derivative and Carbon Dioxide

The conventional synthesis of the high-value biobased polymer 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) typically involves the oxidation of the C6 biomass derivative, 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF). In this work, we introduce an alternative electrochemical method for synthesizing FDCA from a C5 furfural derivative, followed by a chemical modification step to yield FDCA ester. FDCA was successfully synthesized via electrochemical carboxylation of the furfural derivative at the cathode. The Faradaic efficiency of FDCA production was highly influenced by the type of supporting electrolyte cation and the CO₂ flow rate, suggesting that the efficient reaction of CO₂ with the electrochemically generated anionic intermediate is crucial for optimal performance. Additionally, the carboxylation reaction was carried out using various sacrificial anodes without compromising Faradaic efficiency, demonstrating the potential to replace magnesium with more cost-effective alternatives such as aluminum, tin, or zinc.