https://phys.org/news/2018-07-catalyst-dual-function-hydrogen-plastic.html

In their study, the Bochum-based researchers present a nickel boride catalyst which – as it does not contain any precious metals – is readily available and affordable compared to many other catalysts. It can turn the biorefinery product HMF (5-hydroxymethyl-furfural) into FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid). "FDCA is interesting for the industry because it can be processed into polyesters," explains Stefan Barwe. "PEF, an alternative to PET, can thus be produced – and all of this is based on renewable raw materials, i.e. plants."

In the tests conducted by the Bochum-based team, the catalyst turned 98.5 percent of the starting material HMF into FDCA in half an hour; no waste products are created. "We have also designed the catalyst in such a way that it is effective under the same conditions under which hydrogen production is also successful," Stefan Barwe describes a further benefit of the development. The researchers were thus also able to use the starting material to synthesise hydrogen as a the potential energy source. Hydrogen is usually acquired from water using electrolysis, which also produces oxygen. The particularly energy-consuming reaction step, oxygen evolution, was eliminated when the researchers linked up hydrogen evolution and FDCA production.