The Upstream and Downstream products of 3-Furancarboxylic acid

3-Furancarboxylic acid, commonly known as 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, is an important compound used in various applications in the chemical industry.
One of the primary uses of 3-furancarboxylic acid is in the production of 2,5-furan-diacrylate, which is an initiator used in the production of polyurethane polymers.
However, the production of 2,5-furan-diacrylate is not the only use of 3-furancarboxylic acid.
In this article, we will discuss the upstream and downstream products of 3-furancarboxylic acid and their applications in the chemical industry.

Upstream Products of 3-Furancarboxylic Acid
The production of 3-furancarboxylic acid involves several upstream processes, including the production of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF).
Furfural is produced from agricultural waste, such as corn cobs and sugarcane bagasse, through a process known as hydrolysis, which involves the acid hydrolysis of the cellulose in the waste material.
The hydrolysis produces a mixture of furfural and other byproducts, including HMF.
HMF is also produced from the hydrolysis of cellulose, but through a different process known as acid-catalyzed dehydration of the sugars produced during hydrolysis.

Once the furfural and HMF have been produced, they can be converted into 3-furancarboxylic acid through a series of chemical reactions.
The first step in this process is the decarboxylation of furfural and HMF, which involves the removal of carbon dioxide from the molecules to produce 2-furancarboxylic acid and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural, respectively.
The 2-furancarboxylic acid and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural can then be hydrolyzed to produce 3-furan-diacid and 3-furan-aldehyde, respectively.
The 3-furan-aldehyde can then be condensed with formaldehyde to produce 3-furancarboxylic acid.

Downstream Products of 3-Furancarboxylic Acid
The primary downstream product of 3-furancarboxylic acid is 2,5-furandiaacrylate, which is used as an initiator in the production of polyurethane polymers.
The production of 2,5-furandiaacrylate involves the esterification of 3-furancarboxylic acid with acrylic acid.
The esterification reaction produces a mixture of esters, which are then separated from the byproducts and purified to produce 2,5-furandiaacrylate.

2,5-furandiaacrylate is a key component in the production of polyurethane polymers, which are used in a wide range of applications, including as a coating for automobiles, as a sealant in construction, and as a foam insulation in homes and businesses.
The production of polyurethanes involves the reaction of 2,5-furandiaacrylate with a polyisocyanate, such as toluene diisocyanate, to produce a prepolymer, which is then further reacted with a chain extender, such as dimethylolpropionic acid, to produce the final polyurethane polymer.

In addition to its use in the production of polyurethane polymers, 3-furancarboxylic acid and its downstream products have other applications in the chemical industry.
For example, 3-furancarboxylic acid can be used as a building block in the production of polyenes