The present invention describes methods and apparatuses for the synthesis of 5-(chloromethyl)-2-furaldehyde (CMF) from saccharides in pure or crude form, the method comprising: (a) continuously contacting saccharides in pure or crude form, hydrochloric acid, and an organic solvent, by way of a continuous, biphasic-flow reactor assembly at a temperature from about 60 degrees C. to about 200 degrees C. and pressures from about 1 atmosphere to about 20 atmospheres, such that CMF is produced; (b) separating 5-(chloromethyl)-2-furaldehyde by liquid/liquid and solid/liquid phase separation; (c) producing at least five kilograms per day with at least 50% yield. Embodiments of the present invention can produce CMF in a continuous fashion, with high yield and without degradation of CMF to such side products as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), 2-(2-hydroxyacetyl)furan (HAF) and levulinic acid (LA).

Provided is a method for producing a lignin degradation product that includes (1) a degradation step of degrading a raw material containing a plant biomass, in a mixed solvent of water and an aliphatic alcohol having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, which separates into two phases at 0° C. or higher and 50° C. or lower, under the following conditions, and (2) after the degradation step, a liquid-liquid separation step of separating the lignin degradation product-containing organic phase from the solvent that has separated at the temperature for two-phase separation. The method produces a lignin degradation product at a high yield from lignin or a material containing lignin. Condition A: The concentration of the raw material to be in the mixed solvent is 1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less. Condition B: The reaction temperature is 100° C. or higher and 350° C. or lower. Condition C: The reaction time is 0.1 hours or more and 10 hours or less.

The present invention refers to a method of producing furfural and optionally further basic chemicals from biomass material comprising treatment of the biomass material at elevated pressures and temperatures, to the condensates and solid product obtained by the method of the invention, as well as to their use.

The present invention refers to a method of producing furfural and optionally further basic chemicals from biomass material comprising treatment of the biomass material at elevated pressures and temperatures, to the condensates and solid product obtained by the method of the invention, as well as to their use.

Furfural is produced from biomass material containing pentosan, in high yields, in a production process comprising treating the biomass with a solution containing at least one α-hydroxysulfonic acid thereby hydrolyzing the biomass to produce a product stream containing at least one C.sub.5-carbohydrate compound in monomeric and/or oligomeric form, and dehydrating the C5-carbohydrate compound in the presence of an acid, in a biphasic reaction medium comprising an aqueous phase and a water-immiscible organic phase, at a temperature in the range of from about 100° C. to about 250° C. to produce a dehydration product stream containing furfural. An aqueous stream is separated from the dehydration product that can be optionally recycled to the hydrolysis step.

Furfural is produced from biomass material containing pentosan, in high yields, in a production process comprising treating the biomass with a solution containing at least one α-hydroxysulfonic acid thereby hydrolyzing the biomass to produce a product stream containing at least one C.sub.5-carbohydrate compound in monomeric and/or oligomeric form, and dehydrating the C5-carbohydrate compound in the presence of an acid, in a biphasic reaction medium comprising an aqueous phase and a water-immiscible organic phase, at a temperature in the range of from about 100° C. to about 250° C. to produce a dehydration product stream containing furfural. An aqueous stream is separated from the dehydration product that can be optionally recycled to the hydrolysis step.

The present invention is directed to an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly process for the production of chemical target compounds from cellulosic material. In a further aspect, the present invention is directed to a system for conducting the process according to the inventive process.

The present invention is directed to an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly process for the production of chemical target compounds from cellulosic material. In a further aspect, the present invention is directed to a system for conducting the process according to the inventive process.

The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) comprising the steps of: 1) dehydrating at least one saccharide selected from monosaccharides having 6 carbon atoms and disaccharides, oligosaccharides or polysaccharides formed from units having 6 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof in the presence of at least one quaternary ammonium salt R.sub.3R′N.sup.+X.sup.−; in which:—R, which is the same or different, represents a C.sub.1-C.sub.16 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group;—R′ belongs to the group consisting of: hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.16 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, monocyclic substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;—X.sup.− represents an anion selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, hydroxide, BF.sub.4.sup.− and PF.sub.6.sup.−; at a temperature of between 80 and 120° C., removing water from the reaction medium (dehydration stage) and obtaining a reaction mixture comprising the quaternary ammonium salt, HMF, any unreacted saccharide and having a water content of less than 30% by weight relative to the weight of the product HMF; 2) separating HMF from the said reaction mixture (separation stage).

The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) comprising the steps of: 1) dehydrating at least one saccharide selected from monosaccharides having 6 carbon atoms and disaccharides, oligosaccharides or polysaccharides formed from units having 6 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof in the presence of at least one quaternary ammonium salt R.sub.3R′N.sup.+X.sup.−; in which:—R, which is the same or different, represents a C.sub.1-C.sub.16 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group;—R′ belongs to the group consisting of: hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.16 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, monocyclic substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;—X.sup.− represents an anion selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, hydroxide, BF.sub.4.sup.− and PF.sub.6.sup.−; at a temperature of between 80 and 120° C., removing water from the reaction medium (dehydration stage) and obtaining a reaction mixture comprising the quaternary ammonium salt, HMF, any unreacted saccharide and having a water content of less than 30% by weight relative to the weight of the product HMF; 2) separating HMF from the said reaction mixture (separation stage).