Patent ID: 9611241
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: B01D,C07D

Claim:
1. A process for the production of a product comprising 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and water, the process comprising: combining fructose, water, an acid catalyst and a first solvent in a reaction zone; converting in the reaction zone fructose to HMF and water to a partial conversion endpoint, wherein (1) the yield of HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint does not exceed about 80 mol % and is not less than about 30 mol %; (2) the sum of i) unconverted fructose, (ii) the yield of HMF from fructose, and (iii) the yield of intermediates to HMF from fructose at the partial conversion endpoint is at least about 90 mol %; and (3) the reaction zone is maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 80° C. to 180° C.; removing from the reaction zone a combination comprising at least a portion of the product, unconverted fructose and the first solvent, wherein the conversion of fructose to HMF in the combination removed from the reaction zone is quenched at the partial conversion endpoint; separating at least a portion of each of the first solvent, the product and unconverted fructose in the combination removed from the reaction zone from one another; recycling at least a portion of the separated unconverted fructose and at least a portion of the separated first solvent to one or more reaction zones for the conversion of fructose to HMF and water; and recovering the product.