Synthesis of Sulfonated Carbon from Discarded Masks for Effective Production of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), as one of the top ten important platform chemicals, can be used to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), 2,5-dimethyl furan (DMF), levulinic acid, and other chemicals. An environmentally friendly system for synthesis sulfonated carbon materials from discarded masks has been proposed. A series mask-based solid catalysts (bMC-SO3H) were prepared by a simple two-step process. Mechanochemical pretreatment (ball milling) waste mask group precursor, followed thermal carbonization under nitrogen gas, synthesize porous carbon. The total amount bMC-SO3H was measured Boehm method, which exhibited 1.2–5.3 mmol/g. addition precursor in mechanochemical treatment process caused intense structure fragmentation masks. These carbons (bMC(600)-SO3H) achieved fructose conversion 100% HMF yield 82.1% after 120 min at 95 °C 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. could reused five times, during both stable. This work provides strategy efficient catalyzed upgrading HMF.