In situ electrochemical determination of 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) from the photocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)

As the need for improved methods to convert biomass into value-added compounds increases, so too does the requirement for complementary rapid in situ monitoring methods. In this study, for the first time, an in situ electroanalytical method for monitoring the production of 2,5-diformylfuran from the photocatalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was demonstrated. An untreated glassy carbon electrode was employed for rapid, selective and accurate monitoring of the production of 2,5-diformylfuran in a real-time photocatalytic reaction with limits of detection and quantification determined as 0.35 μM and 1.18 μM respectively across a linear range from 1 to 300 μM. The resulting product yields were confirmed through strong correlation with simultaneous HPLC analysis. Moreover, the newly reported method was capable of real-time monitoring with increased data quantity over the same timeframe. This novel electrochemical method provides a more detailed understanding of the DFF production process which could support the development of photocatalytic technology for biomass valorisation.