Construction of Modified Silica Gel Catalysts and Their Enhancement of Fructose Dehydration for 5-HMF Production

To address the challenges of difficult recovery, significant environmental hazards associated with homogeneous catalysts, and insufficient catalytic activity of heterogeneous supports in the catalytic dehydration of fructose to produce 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), this study employs a straightforward nitric acid modification method to prepare an acid-activated silica gel catalyst for application in this reaction system. Through systematic investigation of the influence of modification conditions on catalyst performance and economic benefits, optimal reaction conditions were determined: DMSO as the solvent, nitric acid-modified silica gel as the catalyst, a reaction temperature of 120 °C, a solid–liquid ratio of 1:30 (g∙mL−1), and a fructose-to-catalyst mass ratio of 1:1. Under these conditions, the maximum 5-HMF yield reached 91.6%. Characterization via specific surface area, pore size analysis, and acid/base site characterization (NH3-TPD) revealed that nitric acid modification preserved the silica gel’s pore structure. Through oxidative cleaning, etching to expose silanol groups, and inducing surface defects, this process significantly increased the number of acid sites on the silica gel surface, thereby enhancing catalytic activity. This study presents a low-cost, easily recoverable, and environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalytic strategy for the efficient conversion of fructose into 5-HMF. It also provides experimental guidance for the targeted functionalization of silica-based catalytic materials, holding significant implications for advancing the high-value utilization of biomass resources.