2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), also known as dehydromuconic acid and furanic acid, is an organic compound consisting of two carboxylic acid groups.FDCA is a high value-added biological and chemical substance that is chemically stable and has a high melting point and is insoluble in most solvents.
FDCA has been identified by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of the 12 most promising bio-based platform compounds for building the "green" chemical industry of the future, and has been proposed as an important renewable building block.
FDCA is structurally and chemically similar to the traditional petroleum-based monomer terephthalic acid, so FDCA can be used as a substitute for the petrochemical derivative terephthalic acid. The polymerization of FDCA with ethylene glycol produces polyethylene glycol 2,5-furandicarboxylate (PEF), which is highly regenerative, sustainable, and superior to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in terms of heat resistance, mechanical strength, and gas barrier. In the context of global plastic ban, PEF is expected to gradually replace PET, which in turn will drive the release of FDCA demand.
1. Synthesis of FDCA polyesters and their copolymers as monomers.
FDCA polyesters and their copolymers have outstanding overall barrier properties. Among the FDCA polyesters, PEF, has higher barrier properties for gases such as CO2, 02 and H20 compared to petroleum-based polyester PET.
2. Application to the synthesis of metal-organic skeletal materials:
Since FDCA has two carboxyl groups and one furan ring, it meets the requirements for ligands, thus inspiring researchers to carry out research on the application of MOFs materials, and FDCA can be used with Zn(lI), lanthanide, Cu(lI), Al(lIl) and Fe(lll) to synthesize metal organic skeleton MOFS materials.
3. Pharmacological effects.
The diethyl ester of FDCA has a strong anesthetic effect similar to that of cocaine. dicalcium 2,5-furandicarboxylate inhibits Bacillus megaterium. Screening studies on FDCA-derived anilines have shown them to have important antibacterial effects.
4. Application to plasticizer synthesis:
FDCA has similar chemical structure and physicochemical properties to phthalic acid, and can replace phthalic acid in the synthesis of plasticizers.
5. Synthesis of new semi-aromatic nylon/semi-bio-based aramid/spandex and polyether:
By copolymerizing FDCA with biobased diamines 1,5-decanediamine and 1,10-decanediamine, the team of academician Hanjie Ying from Nanjing University of Technology, China, successfully synthesized 100% biobased semi-aromatic nylon 5F and 10F and systematically investigated their structural and thermodynamic properties.
Market analysis of FDCA applications:
FDCA synthetic polyester excellent performance market potential, polyamide and plasticizer alternative applications to enrich the downstream market options. Grandview Research estimates that FDCA has the largest potential as a monomer prepared polyester market in 2020, accounting for more than 60% of global consumption. The 100% renewable polyester PEF prepared from FDCA and bio-based glycols is gaining market interest in film and packaging applications due to its excellent barrier properties. The second largest application area is polyamides, with a potential application size of 80,000 tons in this market by 2020. In addition, FDCA could be a bio-based material option to replace phthalate plasticizers.
Analysis of the industrialization direction of FDCA.
1) Solve the problem of high preparation cost; 2) Solve the problem of easy color blackening in FDCA polymerization process; 3) Development of FDCA polymerization catalyst; 4) Expansion of FDCA downstream application development.
