Tantalum compounds as heterogeneous catalysts for saccharide dehydration to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.

A new solid acid, based on tantalum hydroxide, was used to catalyze saccharide dehydration into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) with high catalytic activity and excellent stability in a water-2-butanol biphasic system. Furthermore, good results were also obtained from Jerusalem artichoke juice with the catalyst under the same conditions.