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Jens Uhlig. Portrait.

Jens Uhlig

Senior lecturer

Jens Uhlig. Portrait.

Photoelectrochemical oxidation in ambient conditions using earth-abundant hematite anode : A green route for the synthesis of biobased polymer building blocks

Author

  • Anurag Kawde
  • Mahmoud Sayed
  • Qi Shi
  • Jens Uhlig
  • Tönu Pullerits
  • Rajni Hatti-Kaul

Summary, in English

This study demonstrates the use of a photoelectrochemical device comprising earth-abundant hematite photoanode for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), a versatile bio-based platform chemical, under ambient conditions in the presence of an electron mediator. The results obtained in this study showed that the hematite photoanode, upon doping with fluorine, can oxidize water even at lower pH (4.5 and 9.0). For 5-HMF oxidation, three different pH conditions were investigated, and complete oxidation to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) via 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA) was achieved at pH above 12. At lower pH, the oxidation followed another route via 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF), yielding 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA) as the main product. Using the oxidized intermediates as substrates showed DFF to be most efficiently oxidized to FDCA. We also show that, at pH 4.5, the addition of the laccase enzyme promoted the oxidation of 5-HMF to FFCA.

Department/s

  • LINXS - Institute of advanced Neutron and X-ray Science
  • NanoLund: Centre for Nanoscience
  • Chemical Physics
  • Biotechnology

Publishing year

2021-08

Language

English

Publication/Series

Catalysts

Volume

11

Issue

8

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

MDPI AG

Topic

  • Physical Chemistry (including Surface- and Colloid Chemistry)
  • Condensed Matter Physics (including Material Physics, Nano Physics)
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Biochemicals
  • Bioenergy

Keywords

  • 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid
  • 5-HMF oxidation
  • Bio-based chemicals
  • Earth-abundant hematite photoanode
  • Photoelectrochemical cell

Status

Published

Project

  • STEPS – Sustainable Plastics and Transition Pathways, Phase 2

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2073-4344