Use of an acidic solvent and water in the production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid

A method of producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid comprising:

• mixing a solution including 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid and water with an acidic solvent and a catalyst in a reaction vessel to form a reaction mixture;
• heating the reaction mixture to a temperature no greater than 150° C.;
• allowing the 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid to react in the presence of the water and the acidic solvent to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, water, and byproducts;
• removing the water produced during the reaction continuously or periodically;
• and
• removing the 2,5-furandicarboxlic acid from the reaction product,
• wherein the acidic solvent is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, hydroiodic acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, acidic ion exchange resins, tungstosilicic acid, phosphomolybdic acid, phosphotungstic acid, and combinations thereof,
• wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, lithium chloride, rubidium chloride, cesium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, strontium chloride, barium chloride, FeCl3, AlCl3, NH4Cl, [EMIM]Cl, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, lithium fluoride, rubidium fluoride, cesium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, calcium fluoride, strontium fluoride, barium fluoride, FeF3, AlF3, NH4F, [EMIM]F, sodium iodide, potassium iodide, lithium iodide, rubidium iodide, cesium iodide, magnesium iodide, calcium iodide, strontium iodide, barium iodide, FeI3, AlI3, NH4I, [EMIM]I, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, lithium bromide, rubidium bromide, cesium bromide, magnesium bromide, calcium bromide, strontium bromide, barium bromide, FeBr3, AlBr3, NH4Br, [EMIM]Br, and combinations thereof,
• wherein the total amount of water in the reaction mixture is at least 10 vol % of the reaction mixture, and
• wherein the byproducts produced include lactones.