Method for producing an aqueous solution of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural comprising a liquid-liquid extraction step incorporating or followed by filtration

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an aqueous solution of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), the method comprising the following consecutive steps: a) bringing a feedstock (1) containing 5-HMF and a polar aprotic synthesis solvent into contact with an aqueous stream; b) liquid-liquid extraction with an organic extraction solvent followed by a backwashing step c) with an aqueous solvent to obtain an organic raffinate rich in 5-HMF and solvent. The organic raffinate, which is optionally concentrated, then undergoes a hydrodistillation step e) to obtain an aqueous solution of 5-HMF. A step f) of liquid-solid separation of a fraction of solid particles formed by precipitated humins which is present within the aqueous raffinate (5) resulting from step b) and / or from an intermediate liquid stream (19) resulting from step b) is carried out. The aqueous raffinate resulting from the liquid-liquid extraction step b), free of precipitated humins, is treated in a polar aprotic synthesis solvent-water mixture treatment step g).

Description

[0001] Process for producing an aqueous solution of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural comprising liquid-liquid extraction incorporating or followed by filtration

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a method for producing an aqueous solution of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF).

[0004] PRIOR TECHNIQUE

[0005] 5-HMF is an interesting compound derived from biomass that can be used in many fields, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemistry, and specialty chemicals. The production of 5-HMF by dehydration of sugars has been known for many years and has been the subject of a large number of research studies. There are many dehydration conditions; the following methods are examples:

[0006] - 5-HMF can be obtained in aqueous media, usually in the presence of an acid catalyst. This acid catalyst allows the dehydration of C6 sugar (especially fructose) into 5-HMF, but also catalyzes the rehydration of 5-HMF into formic acid and levulinic acid, which seriously affects the yield.

[0007] - 5-HMF can also be obtained in a non-aqueous protic polar medium, with solvents such as methanol, ethanol or acetic acid, and in the presence of an acid catalyst. Under these conditions, 5-HMF is obtained in a mixture with an ether or ester derivative of 5-HMF depending on the reaction medium used. The formation of these side products is due to the reaction of 5-HMF with the reaction solvent in an acid medium.

[0008] - Application WO 2007 / 104514 describes the synthesis of 5-HMF by dehydration of sugar using methanol or ethanol as solvent in the presence of an acid catalyst. In this case, the presence of said catalyst also catalyzes the etherification reaction of 5-HMF by alcohol to give a mixture of 5-HMF and its methyl or ethyl ether form depending on the alcohol used as solvent.

[0009] - 5-HMF can also be produced in a polar aprotic medium with or without an acid catalyst. Particularly noteworthy is the use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which, with or without an acid catalyst, can produce 5-HMF in very good yields and without the undesirable reactions listed above.

[0010] Furthermore, regardless of the synthesis medium (water, methanol, DMSO, etc.), polymeric side products called humins are formed during the production of 5-HMF (van Dam, HE; ​​Kieboom, APG; van Bekkum, H. (1986) The Conversion of Fructose and Glucose in Acidic Media: Formation of Hydroxymethylfurfural. In: Starch - Starke, vol. 38, n° 3, p. 95-101). The synthesis of 5-HMF in a medium such as DMSO is particularly interesting, because it allows 5-HMF to be obtained in its alcohol (and not ether) form with very good yields. However, the physicochemical properties of DMSO (or any other polar aprotic solvent) make it very difficult to separate from 5-HMF by the usual methods known to those skilled in the art.

[0011] A known method for isolating 5-HMF from DMSO is liquid-liquid extraction, followed by crystallization of the extract, as described in patent FR2669635. The applicant has already proposed an improvement to the process described in patent FR2669635, which was the subject of patent FR3071172. This improvement is based on the modification of the liquid-liquid extraction step, in particular by adding a backwashing step with water, and by recycling the backwashing water upstream of the liquid-liquid extraction to mix it with the 5-HMF / DMSO feedstock, said mixture optionally being filtered before the liquid-liquid extraction. This improvement makes it possible to increase the purity of 5-HMF without loss of yield of the product of interest, and to carry out the 5-HMF crystallization step under more favorable conditions.

[0012] However, despite the improvements made by patent FR3071172, the crystallization of 5-HMF remains a costly operation. The high production cost of 5-HMF limits its use, and the development of a process to reduce costs is necessary.

[0013] In this context, the French patent application filed by the applicant under number 2114335 discloses a process for recovering 5-HMF not in crystallized form but in aqueous solution, in particular by implementing a step of concentrating an organic raffinate obtained in a step of backwashing an extract comprising 5-HMF from a liquid-liquid extraction, and a step of hydrodistillation of the concentrated stream from said concentration step, in order to recover the 5-HMF in the form of an aqueous solution of 5-HMF. The disclosed process advantageously comprises a filtration step upstream of the liquid-liquid extraction to remove precipitated humins (solid particles) when adding water to the feedstock (step of mixing the feedstock with the backwash water) before sending it to the liquid-liquid extraction.Indeed, the addition of water to the 5-HMF feed sent to liquid-liquid extraction can cause the precipitation of humins present in the feed, which can generate operational problems during liquid-liquid extraction, for example clogging the equipment.

[0014] The applicant has demonstrated another process for recovering 5-HMF not in crystallized form but in aqueous solution, which, as for the process according to the French patent application filed under number 2114335, opens up new possibilities for the recovery of 5-HMF in various applications, or for subsequent transformations which could not be carried out in DMSO or in the extraction solvent. Furthermore, the process according to the invention thus makes it possible to recover 5-HMF in aqueous solution, while limiting the operating costs, water discharges and therefore the environmental impact of said process. The process according to the invention also makes it possible to improve the elimination of precipitated humins, in particular in order to protect the equipment used during liquid-liquid extraction or during downstream stages.Indeed, the problem of humin precipitation can also occur during the liquid-liquid extraction stage, and harm the liquid-liquid extraction operation as well as downstream operations receiving streams that may contain these precipitated humins, typically the treatment of water-DMSO mixtures resulting from the process.

[0015] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An object of the present invention relates to a method for producing an aqueous solution of 5-HMF.

[0017] The invention relates more particularly to a process for producing an aqueous solution of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), said process comprising the following steps:

[0018] - a step a) of bringing a feedstock comprising 5-HMF and an aprotic polar synthesis solvent into contact with an aqueous stream, so as to obtain at least one aqueous mixture;

[0019] - a step b) of liquid-liquid extraction of the aqueous mixture obtained at the end of step a) in the presence of an extraction solvent, so as to produce an aqueous raffinate comprising said aprotic polar synthesis solvent, an organic extract, a fraction of solid particles, and optionally an intermediate liquid stream, said aqueous raffinate and / or said intermediate liquid stream comprising said fraction of solid particles; then

[0020] - a step c) of backwashing the organic extract with an aqueous solvent, so as to produce an intermediate aqueous back-extract and an organic raffinate comprising 5-HMF and an organic solvent;

[0021] - an optional step d) of concentrating said organic raffinate from step c) by removing at least part of the organic solvent, producing a concentrated organic raffinate comprising 5-HMF, and residual organic solvent, and producing a first stream comprising organic solvent;

[0022] - a step e) of hydrodistillation carried out by distillation of said organic raffinate resulting from step c) or of said concentrated organic raffinate resulting from step d) in the presence of water, to produce an aqueous solution of 5-HMF and a second stream comprising organic solvent;

[0023] - a step f) of liquid-solid separation of said solid fraction within said aqueous raffinate from step b) and / or said intermediate liquid stream from step b), producing a stream of solid particles and an aqueous raffinate depleted in solid particles and / or an intermediate liquid stream depleted in particles sent to step b);

[0024] - a step g) of treating at least one water-solvent mixture of polar aprotic synthesis produced in said process, said mixture consisting of said aqueous raffinate depleted in particles from step f) or said aqueous raffinate not comprising the fraction of solid particles from step b), to produce at least one aqueous effluent recyclable in said process.

[0025] According to one or more embodiments, step b) produces the intermediate liquid stream comprising the fraction of solid particles, and said intermediate liquid stream is sent to step f) to separate the fraction of solid particles from the intermediate liquid stream, forming the intermediate liquid stream depleted in particles sent to step b), and at least said water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture consisting of said aqueous raffinate not comprising the fraction of solid particles from step b) is sent to step g).

[0026] According to one or more embodiments, the intermediate liquid stream sent to step f) is an intermediate aqueous raffinate comprising the solid particle fraction produced by a separation between the extraction solvent and a water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture in the liquid-liquid extraction step b).

[0027] According to one or more embodiments, the intermediate liquid stream sent to step f) is a three-phase mixture comprising a first liquid phase comprising 5-HMF and extraction solvent, a second liquid phase comprising water and aprotic polar synthesis solvent, and a solid phase comprising the solid particle fraction.

[0028] According to one or more embodiments, the aqueous raffinate produced in step b) comprises the solid particle fraction, and said aqueous raffinate is sent to step f) to separate the solid particle fraction from the aqueous raffinate, forming the aqueous raffinate depleted in solid particles sent to step g) as a water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments, step f) is carried out at a temperature between 0 and 60°C, and preferably comprises filtration, preferably carried out by a filter press.

[0030] According to one or more embodiments, step d) of concentrating the organic raffinate from step c) comprising vaporization of the organic solvent at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum, preferably at a pressure of between 0.01 MPa and 0.1 MPa, and a liquid temperature maintained at less than or equal to 130°C, said concentrated organic raffinate comprising 5-HMF at a content greater than or equal to 40% by weight and residual organic solvent at a content less than or equal to 60% by weight. According to one or more embodiments, step e) is carried out at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum, preferably at a pressure of between 0.001 MPa and 0.1 MPa, and preferably under vacuum at a pressure of between 0.005 MPa and 0.08 MPa.

[0031] According to one or more embodiments, step e) is carried out in a distillation column, preferably at a column bottom temperature of less than or equal to 140°C.

[0032] According to one or more embodiments, the extraction solvent is selected from dichloromethane, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, thiophene, anisole and toluene, and preferably is methyl isobutyl ketone.

[0033] According to one or more embodiments, the weight ratio (weight / weight) of aqueous solvent relative to the organic extract in the backwashing step c) is between 0.04 and 5, preferably between 0.07 and 3, preferably between 0.1 and 1.

[0034] According to one or more embodiments, the process comprises a step of dehydrating the sugars to 5-HMF upstream of step a), preferably by bringing a sugar feedstock comprising one or more sugars into contact with said aprotic polar synthesis solvent and an acid dehydration catalyst, preferably at a temperature between 30°C and 200°C, preferably at a temperature between 50°C and 180°C, preferably between 70°C and 150°C, preferably between 90°C and 130°C, and at a pressure between 0.001 MPa and 10 MPa, preferably between 0.001 MPa and 5 MPa, preferably between 0.01 MPa and 1 MPa.

[0035] According to one or more embodiments, the aqueous effluent produced in step g) is used in whole or in part in step a) and / or in step c) and / or in step e).

[0036] According to one or more embodiments, in step a), the aqueous stream comprises all or a fraction of said intermediate aqueous counter-extract from step c).

[0037] According to one or more embodiments, the aprotic polar synthesis solvent is selected from pyridine, butan-2-one, acetone, acetic anhydride, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylurea, benzonitrile, acetonitrile, methyl ethyl ketone, propionitrile, hexamethylphosphoramide, nitrobenzene, nitromethane, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, sulfolane, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, propylene carbonate and y-valerolactone, taken alone or as a mixture, and is preferably dimethyl sulfoxide.

[0038] According to one or more embodiments, the concentrated organic raffinate obtained at the end of concentration step d) has a 5-HMF content of between 40% and 95% by weight and a residual organic solvent content of between 5% and 60% by weight, expressed relative to the weight of the concentrated organic raffinate.

[0039] According to one or more embodiments, an aqueous stream feeds the hydrodistillation step e).

[0040] According to one or more embodiments, step g) comprises the treatment of one or more other water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixtures produced within the process.

[0041] Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of particular examples of embodiments of the invention, given as non-limiting examples, the description being made with reference to the appended figures described below.

[0042] LIST OF FIGURES

[0043] Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which the liquid-solid separation step f) is carried out during the liquid-liquid extraction, on an intermediate liquid stream removed from the liquid-liquid extraction step b).

[0044] Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of the process according to the invention, in which the liquid-solid separation step f) is carried out downstream of the liquid-liquid extraction step b), on the aqueous raffinate obtained at the end of the liquid-liquid extraction step b).

[0045] Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the method according to the invention, comprising, as for the method illustrated in Figure 1, a liquid-solid separation step f) carried out downstream of the liquid-liquid extraction step b), and comprising an additional liquid-solid separation step to the mixing step a) as well as various recycles of aqueous streams in the process.

[0046] In the figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

[0047] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0048] In the following detailed description, many specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the method. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the method may be carried out without necessarily all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.

[0049] It is specified that, throughout this description, the expression "between ... and ..." must be understood as including the limits cited, unless otherwise specified.

[0050] In the present description, the term "comprise" is synonymous with (means the same as) "comprise", "include" and "contain", and is inclusive or open and does not exclude other elements that would not be mentioned. It is understood that the term "comprise" includes the exclusive and closed term "consist". For the purposes of the present invention, the various embodiments presented can be implemented separately or in combination with each other, without limitation of combinations where technically feasible.

[0051] For the purposes of the present invention, the different parameter ranges for a given step such as pressure ranges and temperature ranges may be used alone or in combination. For example, for the purposes of the present invention, a preferred range of pressure values ​​may be combined with a more preferred range of temperature values.

[0052] In the present description, aprotic solvent is understood to mean a molecule acting as a solvent and all of whose hydrogen atoms are carried by carbon atoms.

[0053] In the present description, polar solvent means a molecule acting as a solvent whose dipole moment p expressed in Debye has a numerical value greater than or equal to 2.00 measured at 25°C.

[0054] In the present description, the term aprotic polar solvent is therefore understood to mean a molecule acting as a solvent in which all the hydrogen atoms are carried by carbon atoms and in which the dipole moment p expressed in Debye has a numerical value greater than or equal to 2.00 measured at 25°C.

[0055] For a better understanding of the invention, reference numerals appearing in the figures are mentioned below to designate different elements of the method, without this constituting a limitation to the particular embodiments illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3.

[0056] Optional step of dehydration of sugars into 5-HMF

[0057] Advantageously, feedstock 1 comprising 5-HMF and an aprotic polar synthesis solvent introduced in step a) according to the invention can be obtained during a step of dehydration of sugars into 5-HMF, very advantageously located upstream of step a) according to the invention, by bringing a sugar feedstock comprising one or more sugars into contact with an aprotic polar synthesis solvent and an acid dehydration catalyst so as to produce an effluent containing at least 5-HMF and an aprotic polar synthesis solvent, also called herein synthesis effluent, and advantageously corresponding to feedstock 1 of the process according to the invention introduced in mixing step a). The process according to the invention can therefore optionally comprise such a step of dehydration of sugars into 5-HMF, located upstream of step a).

[0058] The polar aprotic synthesis solvent is advantageously chosen from all polar aprotic solvents whose dipole moment expressed in Debye (D) is greater than or equal to 2.00. Preferably, the aprotic polar solvents are chosen from pyridine (2.37), butan-2-one (5.22), acetone (2.86), acetic anhydride (2.82), N,N,N',N'-tetramethylurea (3.48), benzonitrile (4.05), acetonitrile (3.45), methyl ethyl ketone (2.76), propionitrile (3.57), hexamethylphosphoramide (5.55), nitrobenzene (4.02), nitromethane (3.57), N,N-dimethylformamide (3.87), N,N-dimethylacetamide (3.72), sulfolane (4.80), N-methylpyrrolidone (4.09) noted NMP, dimethyl sulfoxide (3.90) noted DMSO, propylene carbonate (4.94) and γ-valerolactone (4.71), alone or in mixture.

[0059] Preferably, the aprotic polar solvent is advantageously chosen from acetone, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, sulfolane, NMP, DMSO, propylene carbonate and γ-valerolactone, alone or as a mixture.

[0060] Preferably, the aprotic polar solvent is advantageously chosen from N,N-dimethylacetamide, NMP, DMSO, and γ-valerolactone, alone or as a mixture.

[0061] Most preferably, the aprotic polar solvent is DMSO.

[0062] An acid dehydration catalyst is any Brônsted acid catalyst chosen from organic or inorganic, homogeneous or heterogeneous Brônsted acids capable of inducing the dehydration of sugars into 5-HMF.

[0063] Preferably, the acid dehydration catalyst is a Brpnsted acid having a pKa in the polar aprotic synthesis solvent, preferably in DMSO, of between 0 and 5.0, preferably between 0.5 and 4.0 and most preferably between 1.0 and 3.0. Said pKa are as defined in the article by F.G. Bordwell et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1991, 113, 8398-8401).

[0064] Preferably, the acid dehydration catalyst is selected from HF, HCl, HBr, HI, H2SO3, H2SO4, H3PO2, H3PO4, HNO2, HNO3, H2WO4, H4SiWi2O 40 , H3PWI2O 40 , (NH4)6(Wi2O 40 ).xH2O, H4SiMoi2O 40 , H3PMOI2O 40, (NH4)6MO7O24.XH2O, H2MOO4, HreO4, H2CrO4, H2SnO3, H4SiO4, H3BO3, HclO4, HBF4, HSbF5, HPF6, H2FO3P, CISO3H, FSO3H, HN(SO2F)2, HIO3, BF3, AICk, AI(Otf)3, FeCI3, ZnCI2, SnCI2, CrCI3, CeCI3, ErCI3, formic acid, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, methanesulfinic acid, methanesulfonic acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amine, benzoic acid, paratoluenesulfonic acid, acid 4-biphenylsulfonic acid, diphenylphosphate, and 1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diyl hydrogenphosphate. Preferably, the acid dehydration catalyst is selected from HCl, H2SO4, H3PO2, H3PO4, HNO3, AICI3, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, methanesulfinic acid, methanesulfonic acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid.

[0065] Sugar refers to a sugar containing 6 carbon atoms (hexoses), but this does not exclude the presence in the feed of sugars containing 5 carbon atoms (pentoses), in the form of oligosaccharides and monosaccharides. In particular, sugar refers to glucose or fructose, alone or in a mixture, sucrose, but also oligosaccharides such as cellobiose, maltose, cellulose or even inulin.

[0066] The sugar filler used may be sugar in solid form, or an aqueous sugar solution known as syrup, preferably containing at least 30% by weight of sugar, more preferably at least 50% by weight, and even more preferably at least 70% by weight of sugar. By way of illustration, sucrose is generally produced in the form of a solid, whereas glucose or fructose, alone or in a mixture, are generally produced in the form of an aqueous solution (syrup), for example at 70% by weight in sugar.

[0067] The optional dehydration step is carried out at a temperature between 30 and 200°C, preferably between 50 and 180°C, preferably between 70 and 150°C and preferably between 90 and 130°C, for example a temperature of 120°C. Preferably, the optional dehydration step is carried out at a pressure between 0.001 MPa and 10 MPa, preferably between 0.001 MPa and 5 MPa, preferably between 0.01 MPa and 1 MPa. Depending on the pressure and temperature conditions, the reaction medium is above or below the bubble point of the mixture. Bubble point refers to the pressure and temperature conditions under which the first gas bubbles appear for a liquid.When the reaction medium is above the bubble point of the mixture, the vapor phase can be withdrawn from the reactor, optionally rectified, and condensed to form the condensates which can be sent to a step g) of treatment of water-solvent mixtures of polar aprotic synthesis.

[0068] Preferably, the acid dehydration catalyst is introduced into the dehydration step in a molar ratio of the catalyst relative to the sugar feedstock, noted Acid / Sugar, expressed as a molar percentage (mol%), of between 0.01 and 10 mol%, preferably between 0.05 and 8 mol%, preferably between 0.1 and 6 mol%, preferably between 0.2 and 5 mol%, preferably between 0.3 and 4 mol% and very preferably between 0.5 and 3 mol%.

[0069] The optional dehydration step can be carried out according to different embodiments. Thus, the step can advantageously be implemented discontinuously or continuously (the discontinuous mode being called "batch" according to English terminology). The addition of the sugar feedstock can be gradual (called "fed-batch" according to English terminology) in the case of discontinuous implementation or staged in different CSTR reactors (Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor in English terminology) in series in a continuous implementation. It can operate in a closed reaction chamber or in a semi-open reactor.

[0070] Advantageously, the synthesis effluent obtained at the end of the optional dehydration step comprises 5-HMF and aprotic polar synthesis solvent, preferably DMSO. The aprotic polar synthesis solvent, typically DMSO, generally represents between 30 and 95% by weight of the synthesis effluent resulting from the dehydration step and treated in step a) of the process according to the invention, preferably between 40 and 90% by weight, preferably between 50 and 90% by weight, preferably between 55 and 85% by weight.

[0071] 5-HMF represents more than 1% by weight of the synthesis effluent from the optional dehydration step and treated in step a) of the process according to the invention, preferably more than 10% by weight, preferably more than 15% by weight and preferably less than 50% by weight, preferably less than 40% by weight, more preferably less than 30% by weight.

[0072] Furthermore, said synthesis effluent from the optional dehydration step may contain water even before its mixing in step a) with the aqueous stream 21. Said water may come from the dehydration step, for example water is formed during the dehydration reaction of the sugar into 5-HMF (3 moles of water generated per mole of 5-HMF produced). This water may also have been introduced with the sugar, in the case where, for practical reasons, a sugar syrup, for example at approximately 70% by weight in water, is used. Advantageously, during the optional dehydration step, a water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture (e.g. DMSO) may be recovered in the vapor phase. Said water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture (e.g. DMSO) may advantageously be sent to step g).Thus, the synthesis effluent from the optional dehydration step and introduced in step a) as feed 1 may contain water, in a proportion generally between 0.1 and 30% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 15% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 10% by weight.

[0073] It may be advantageous to carry out, during the optional dehydration step, a concomitant extraction of water from the reaction medium, in order to reduce its content and thus improve the selectivity of the reaction. 5-HMF selectivity is understood to mean the ratio between the number of moles of 5-HMF produced and the number of converted moles of fructose contained in the sugar feed introduced into the process. In a polar aprotic medium, the presence of water degrades the conversion selectivity of sugars in a way that is all the more notable as the concentration of sugars in the DMSO is high. Such continuous extraction of water during the synthesis of 5-HMF is therefore interesting in this respect, and also makes it possible to manage in a single step the extraction of water that may be present in the sugar feed if it is in the form of a syrup. During such extraction of water from the reaction medium, the reaction medium is above the bubble point of the mixture.The vapor phase may be withdrawn from the reactor, rectified and condensed to form water condensates which contain less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5% by weight or even less than 1% by weight, of the aprotic polar synthesis solvent. The extracted water may come from dehydration and / or have been introduced with the sugar feedstock, in the case where, for practical reasons, a feedstock in the form of syrup is used. Advantageously at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 80% by weight, or even 90% by weight of the water present in the reaction medium is extracted. The water extracted from the reaction medium may represent at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 80% by weight or even 90% by weight of the water produced during dehydration.The extraction of water can be carried out by different methods, such as evaporation, adsorption (for example in a molecular sieve), membrane separation or osmosis, and is advantageously carried out by distillation, requiring that the aprotic polar synthesis solvent be less volatile than water. Advantageously, the extraction of water is carried out under conditions which allow at least 90% by weight, preferably at least 95% by weight or even 99% by weight of the aprotic polar synthesis solvent used in the dehydration step to be recovered in the synthesis effluent obtained at the end of the optional dehydration step.The water thus extracted can, like the aqueous effluent 15 from step g) of treatment of the water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixtures, be recycled to one or more steps of the process requiring the addition of an aqueous stream, or be mixed with said recyclable aqueous effluent 15, or even be sent to step g) to be treated and eliminate the aprotic polar synthesis solvent that it may still contain, in particular to produce said recyclable aqueous effluent 15.

[0074] When the sugar feed is in the form of a syrup, it may be advantageous to reduce the water content present upstream of the optional step of dehydration of the sugar feed, and optionally by extraction of the water resulting from the dehydration reaction during the dehydration step as already described above and not repeated here. Thus, an extraction and substitution of the water from the sugar feed in the form of syrup may be carried out by an aprotic polar synthesis solvent and a mixture sent to the dehydration step may be obtained. The water from the syrup may be extracted at least in part after mixing the syrup with the aprotic polar synthesis solvent. Said solvent makes it possible to keep the sugar in a dilute medium and to substitute the dilution with water by dilution with the synthesis solvent.The extraction of water can be carried out by different methods, such as evaporation, adsorption (for example in a molecular sieve), membrane separation, and is advantageously carried out by distillation, requiring that the polar aprotic synthesis solvent be less volatile than water. Advantageously, the extracted water represents at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 80% by weight or even at least 90% by weight of the water present in the syrup. The extracted water can represent between 90 and 99% by weight of the water in the syrup. Advantageously, the extracted water comprises less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5% by weight or even less than 1% by weight of synthesis solvent.The water thus extracted can, like the aqueous effluent 15 from step g) of treatment of the water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixtures, be recycled to one or more steps of the process requiring the addition of an aqueous stream, or be mixed with said recyclable aqueous effluent 15, or even be sent to step g) to be treated and eliminate the aprotic polar synthesis solvent that it may still contain, in particular to produce said recyclable aqueous effluent 15.

[0075] The synthesis effluent from the optional dehydration step and introduced in step a) as feedstock 1 may also contain impurities, in particular humins. The term "humins" refers to all the undesirable polymeric compounds formed during the synthesis of 5-HMF. Humins represent, in particular, less than 30% by weight of the converted sugar feedstock, preferably less than 20% by weight.

[0076] An optional neutralization step can be carried out on the synthesis effluent from the optional dehydration step before its introduction into step a) as feed 1, said synthesis effluent containing the acid dehydration catalyst. This makes it possible to reduce the reactivity of the medium and thus to avoid the degradation mechanisms of 5-HMF, or even to reduce the corrosion of the materials of the equipment downstream of the optional dehydration step. Since the dehydration reaction can produce some organic acids, the quantity of neutralization agent can advantageously make it possible to neutralize all the acids present in the synthesis effluent from the dehydration step. Such a neutralization step is advantageously carried out at least at the stoichiometric ratio of the quantity of catalyst used.Since the dehydration reaction can produce some organic acids, neutralization is generally carried out in slight over-stoichiometry compared to the catalyst used, preferably between 1 and 2 times the stoichiometric ratio, preferably between 1 and 1.5 times the stoichiometric ratio. The neutralization agent can be a basic compound chosen from NaOH, KOH, NH4OH, Na2CO3, K2CO3, NaHCO3, KHCO3, Mg(OH)2, Ca(OH)2, Ba(OH)2.

[0077] Step a) mixing

[0078] The process according to the invention comprises a step a) of bringing into contact (or mixing) the feedstock 1 comprising 5-HMF and an aprotic polar synthesis solvent, optionally resulting from the dehydration step, with an aqueous stream 21 so as to obtain at least one aqueous mixture 3.

[0079] The aqueous stream 21 may be composed of pure water, external to the process, or of water recycled from the process, for example the aqueous stream 21 may advantageously comprise all or part of the intermediate aqueous counter-extract 9 from step c) and / or the water 15 produced in step g) of treatment of the water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis.

[0080] Preferably, the 5-HMF represents more than 1% by weight of the feedstock 1 introduced in step a) of the process according to the invention, preferably more than 10% by weight, preferably more than 15% by weight and preferably less than 50% by weight, preferably less than 40% by weight, more preferably less than 30% by weight. Preferably, the aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) represents between 30 and 95% by weight of the feedstock 1 introduced in step a), preferably between 40 and 90% by weight, preferably between 50 and 90% by weight, more preferably between 55 and 85% by weight.

[0081] The filler 1 introduced in step a) may also contain water, in a proportion preferably between 0.1 and 30% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 15% by weight and more preferably between 0.1 and 10% by weight.

[0082] Optionally, filler 1 may further contain humins. The humins represent, in particular, less than 30% by weight of filler 1, preferably less than 20% by weight.

[0083] The aqueous stream 21 therefore comprises, and may consist of, water. When the aqueous stream 21 comprises a fraction of recycled process water, said fraction may comprise at least 60% by weight of water, preferably at least 70% by weight, more preferably at least 80% by weight, even more preferably at least 95% by weight or even 98% by weight of water. The aqueous stream 21 may comprise all or a fraction of the intermediate aqueous counter-extract 9 from step c). Said intermediate aqueous counter-extract 9 comprises water, aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) and optionally 5-HMF. Advantageously, said intermediate aqueous counter-extract 9 contains more than 60% by weight of water, preferably more than 70% by weight of water and more preferably more than 80% by weight of water.

[0084] Advantageously, the aqueous mixture 3 obtained at the end of step a) contains between 10% and 90% by weight of water, preferably between 20 and 80% by weight of water, preferably between 40 and 75% by weight of water.

[0085] Preferably, step a) is carried out at a temperature between 0 and 60°C, preferably between 5 and 40°C, and is generally carried out at room temperature, i.e. at a temperature between 10 and 40°C.

[0086] By increasing the water content of feed 1 during step a), some of the humins present in feed 1 may precipitate. The mixture resulting from the contact of said feed 1 with aqueous stream 21 may therefore advantageously be subjected to a liquid-solid separation step before being sent to liquid-liquid extraction step b), so as to obtain a liquid separated from suspended solid particles and a solid residue comprising humins and which is preferably removed from the process in the form of a solid stream 2. Such an optional liquid-solid separation step thus makes it possible to remove the “humins” which have precipitated in step a) or upstream. At least some of the liquid obtained is then advantageously sent to liquid-liquid extraction step b), said part or preferably all of the liquid advantageously sent to step b) corresponding to the aqueous mixture 3.Such a liquid-solid separation step in step a) can be advantageously implemented when the quantity of humins precipitated in the mixture formed by the feedstock 1 and the aqueous stream 21 in step a) is for example greater than 1% by weight. This optional liquid-solid separation step is preferably carried out at a temperature between 0 and 60°C, preferably between 5 and 40°C, and generally at room temperature (i.e. between 10 and 40°C). The optional liquid-solid separation step prior to step b) is a simple solid-liquid separation, and can be carried out by any method known to those skilled in the art, such as by using a filter press, a belt filter, a clarifier, a decanter, a centrifuge, for example a plate centrifuge, said techniques being used alone or in combination, in any order.Preferably, the liquid-solid separation step is filtration, preferably carried out by a filter press.

[0087] Step b) liquid-liquid extraction

[0088] The process according to the invention comprises a step b) of liquid-liquid extraction of the aqueous mixture 3 obtained at the end of step a) in the presence of an extraction solvent 4, so as to produce an aqueous raffinate 5 and an organic extract 6.

[0089] The liquid-liquid extraction carried out in step b) advantageously corresponds to a washing of the aqueous mixture with an organic extraction solvent. Preferably, the liquid-liquid extraction carried out in step b) is a countercurrent extraction of the aqueous mixture 3 obtained in step a) with an extraction solvent 4. This technique is well known to those skilled in the art. It can be carried out, for example, in a battery of mixer-settlers, in a column filled with bulk or structured packing, in a pulsed column, or even in a stirred column.

[0090] The liquid-liquid extraction may comprise the implementation of at least two theoretical separation stages. This is for example the case when the liquid-solid separation step f) is carried out on an intermediate liquid stream 19 from the liquid-liquid extraction step b), which returns to step b) once freed from solid particles as detailed later in step f). A first liquid-liquid separation stage may then be carried out, producing said intermediate liquid stream 19 sent to the liquid-solid separation step f) to form an intermediate liquid stream depleted in particles 20 sent to the second liquid-liquid extraction stage of step b).

[0091] Step b) of liquid-liquid extraction is advantageously carried out at a temperature between 0 and 60°C, preferably between 5°C and 40°C, and generally at room temperature (i.e. between 10 and 40°C).

[0092] The weight proportion (weight / weight) of extraction solvent 4 relative to the aqueous mixture 3 is preferably between 0.2 and 5, preferably between 1 and 3, preferably between 1.5 and 2.5. The extraction solvent 4 introduced in step b) is chosen from organic solvents immiscible with water, so as to form two liquid phases in step b) and in the backwashing step c). This property is highly dependent on the relative proportion of the flow rates of feedstock, back-extraction water and extraction solvent used in the process.

[0093] In a non-limiting manner, the extraction solvent is preferably chosen from chlorinated organic solvents, ethers, esters, ketones and aromatic compounds. Preferably the extraction solvent is a chlorinated solvent having between 1 and 10 carbon atoms, hereinafter referred to as C1-C10, an ether having between 2 and 10 carbon atoms (C2-C10), an ester having between 4 and 10 carbon atoms (C4-C10), a ketone having between 3 and 10 carbon atoms (C3-C10), an aldehyde between 1 and 10 carbon atoms (C1-C10), a C4-C10 aromatic compound. Preferably, the extraction solvent is chosen from dichloromethane, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, thiophene, anisole and toluene. Very preferably, the extraction solvent is methyl isobutyl ketone.

[0094] Advantageously, the extraction solvent is chosen so as to:

[0095] - have a very high difference in volatility with 5-HMF, in particular so as to facilitate its elimination in the optional step d) and limit the degradation of 5-HMF, i.e. so as to present in step d) a vaporization rate making it possible not to degrade 5-HMF and to minimize the quantity of residual solvent to be eliminated in step e) while guaranteeing the absence of liquid phase separation when the concentrated organic raffinate 10 is brought into contact with water in step e), and,

[0096] - forming in step e) a heterogeneous azeotrope with water, preferably rich in solvent, i.e. more than 50% by weight of solvent, preferably more than 60% by weight of solvent and preferably more than 70% by weight of solvent. Advantageously, said azeotrope of the water / extraction solvent mixture has a boiling point significantly lower than that of water, preferably at least 5°C lower than the boiling point of water, preferably at least 8°C lower than the boiling point of water and preferably at least 10°C lower than the boiling point of water.

[0097] Advantageously, the organic solvent streams produced in the subsequent steps can be recycled to the extraction step b), as extraction solvent. These organic solvent streams can contain impurities possibly generated during the implementation of the method. Advantageously, the organic solvent streams produced in the subsequent steps can be distilled, for example periodically, to avoid the accumulation of said impurities. Step b) thus makes it possible to obtain, on the one hand, an aqueous stream depleted in 5-HMF, called aqueous raffinate 5, which contains a large part of the aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) initially contained in feedstock 1, and on the other hand an organic stream enriched in 5-HMF, called organic extract 6, which contains a large part of the 5-HMF, initially contained in feedstock 1, and the extraction solvent 4. This organic extract 6 can also contain aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO).Preferably, said organic extract preferably contains 5-HMF and polar aprotic synthesis solvent (eg DMSO) in a weight ratio, 5-HMF / polar aprotic synthesis solvent (eg DMSO), of between 50 / 50 and 99 / 01, preferably of between 50 / 50 and 95 / 05, preferably of between 55 / 45 and 90 / 10, more preferably of between 60 / 40 and 85 / 15 and more preferably of between 65 / 35 and 80 / 20.

[0098] Advantageously, the organic extract 6 is sent directly to the backwashing step c).

[0099] A fraction of solid particles, formed by precipitated humins, is also present in step b). These may be humins precipitated in the upstream mixing step a), still present in the aqueous mixture 3 sent to step b), or humins precipitated in step b) or even in the backwashing step c).

[0100] Said fraction of solid particles may be in suspension in the intermediate liquid flow 19 optionally formed in step b) and / or in the aqueous flow 15. When said aqueous flow 15 comprises the fraction of solid particles, the aqueous flow 15 is sent to step f) of liquid-solid separation described later.

[0101] Step c) backwashing

[0102] The process according to the invention comprises a step c) of backwashing the organic extract 6, with an aqueous solvent 7, so as to produce an intermediate aqueous counter-extract 9 and an organic raffinate 8 comprising 5-HMF and an organic solvent. The intermediate aqueous counter-extract 9 is advantageously sent in part or in full to step a). The organic solvent is in particular composed at least in part of extraction solvent and may optionally comprise aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO), preferably in small quantities.

[0103] The introduction of an aqueous solvent 7 in step c) is carried out so as to implement a backwash, according to the general knowledge of a person skilled in the art. The introduction of the aqueous solvent 7 is carried out so that the quantity of aqueous solvent is as low as possible so as to reduce costs, but sufficient to guarantee a weight content of aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) in the organic raffinate 8 which is low and preferably less than or equal to 20.0% by weight relative to the weight of the 5-HMF, preferably less than or equal to 15.0% by weight relative to the weight of the 5-HMF, preferably between 0.01 and 15.0% by weight relative to the weight of the 5-HMF, very preferably between 0.01 and 10.0% by weight relative to the weight of the

[0104] 5-HMF.

[0105] Advantageously, the aqueous backwash solvent 7 introduced in step c) comprises at least 95% by weight of water, preferably at least 98% by weight of water (100% being the maximum). The aqueous solvent may optionally comprise aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO). The effectiveness of the backwash is higher the lower the amount of aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) present in the aqueous backwash solvent. The aqueous solvent may comprise at most 1.0% by weight, and preferably at most 0.1% by weight of aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO). Advantageously, the aqueous backwash solvent 7 comes from step g) of treatment of water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixtures produced within the process, and thus comprises at least a fraction of the recyclable effluent 15. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aqueous raffinate 5 composed of water and aprotic polar synthesis solvent (egDMSO), produced in step b), or the aqueous raffinate depleted in 5' particles produced in step f), is treated in step g) which advantageously comprises distillation. The water-rich distillate thus obtained at the end of this step g), also called aqueous effluent 15 recyclable in the process, and is advantageously used to form the aqueous backwash solvent 7 in step c), optionally mixed with a water make-up 22, or is used in mixing step a) to form the aqueous stream 21, optionally with at least one intermediate aqueous counter-extract fraction 7 and / or a water make-up. Said recyclable effluent 15, e.g. water-rich distillate, may also contain a residual quantity of aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO), preferably less than or equal to 1% by weight and preferably less than or equal to 0.1% by weight. The residual amount of polar aprotic synthesis solvent (egDMSO) in the aqueous effluent 15 (the distillate) is all the lower the more efficiently the distillation of step g) is carried out, in particular with a number of distillation stages greater than 5, and advantageously suitable reboiling and reflux rates.

[0106] The backwashing step c) is advantageously a liquid-liquid extraction of an organic stream, in particular of the organic extract 6 obtained in step b) against the current of the aqueous solvent 7. This technique is well known to those skilled in the art. The extraction can be carried out, for example, in a battery of mixer-settlers, in a column filled with bulk or structured packing, in a pulsed column, or even in a stirred column.

[0107] Step c) is preferably carried out at a temperature between 0 and 60°C, preferably between 5 and 40°C and generally at room temperature (i.e. between 10 and 40°C). The weight ratio (weight / weight) of aqueous solvent 7 relative to organic extract 6 is preferably between 0.04 and 5, preferably between 0.07 and 3, preferably between 0.1 and 1.

[0108] Step c) makes it possible to obtain an aqueous stream advantageously enriched in aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO), called intermediate aqueous counter-extract 9, preferably containing at least 60% by weight of water, preferably at least 80% by weight of water, and an organic raffinate 8, advantageously depleted in aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO). Said intermediate aqueous counter-extract 9 is advantageously sent, in part or preferably in full, to step a). The organic raffinate 8 obtained has a weight content of aprotic polar synthesis solvent preferably less than or equal to 20.0% by weight relative to the weight of 5-HMF, preferably less than or equal to 15.0% by weight, more preferably less than or equal to 5.0% by weight, even more preferably less than or equal to 4.0% by weight, and more preferably less than or equal to 3.0% by weight relative to the weight of 5-HMF.

[0109] According to the invention, the organic raffinate 8 produced in step c) is sent to the optional concentration step d) or directly to the hydrodistillation step e).

[0110] Humins may still be present in the organic extract 6 sent to the backwashing step c). In the event that they precipitate at this step, thus forming undesirable solid particles, the latter could be eliminated at the liquid-solid separation step f) by sending to step b) the intermediate aqueous back-extract 9, in part or in full, which would comprise the precipitated humins, and which could be sent to the liquid-solid separation step f) with the intermediate liquid stream 19 and / or the aqueous raffinate 5. In the event that the intermediate aqueous back-extract 9 is sent in part or in full to step a) to enter into the composition or constitute the aqueous stream 21, the precipitated humins could also be separated during the optional liquid-solid separation of step a), or even at step f) as already described above and detailed below.

[0111] Optional step d) of concentration

[0112] The method according to the invention preferably comprises a step d) of concentrating the organic raffinate 8 from step c), by removing a portion of the organic solvent, producing a concentrated organic raffinate 10, comprising 5-HMF and residual organic solvent, and a first stream 11 comprising, preferably consisting of, organic solvent, said organic solvent advantageously being composed in whole or in part of the extraction solvent and optionally of aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO). Preferably, the first stream 11 comprising organic solvent is recycled, in whole or in part, to the extraction step b), for example forming at least a portion of the organic solvent stream 4.

[0113] Preferably, in step d), the elimination of part of the organic solvent is carried out by vaporization, for example in a distillation column at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum, in an evaporator, or any method known to those skilled in the art.

[0114] According to this preferred embodiment, the vaporization of the organic solvent is advantageously carried out at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum, preferably at a pressure of between 0.01 MPa and 0.1 MPa, preferably under vacuum at a pressure of between 0.01 MPa and 0.09 MPa, so as to limit the temperature of the liquid and therefore the degradation of the 5-HMF. Preferably, the temperature of the liquid is kept less than or equal to 130°C, preferably kept less than or equal to 100°C, preferably kept less than or equal to 70°C. The pressure level, in particular vacuum, to be applied to reach these temperatures is of course dependent on the organic solvent and more particularly on the extraction solvent used and the vaporization rate of the organic solvent.

[0115] In a preferred embodiment, the vaporization of the solvent is carried out by multi-effect evaporation or with mechanical recompression of the vapors, or any other methods known to those skilled in the art, so as to reduce the operating costs associated with the evaporation of the solvent while limiting the risks of degradation of the product of interest, i.e. 5-HMF. For example, in the case of a triple-effect evaporator, the temperature of the liquid is kept below 130°C in the first effect, below 100°C in the second effect, and below 70°C in the third effect. Thus, the temperature of the liquid phase is reduced as the 5-HMF is concentrated in the organic solvent, limiting any risk of degradation.

[0116] Optional step d) is implemented with a vaporization mass rate (or evaporation rate), corresponding to the mass of vaporized organic solvent relative to the mass of the organic raffinate 8 from step c) (more particularly the mass quantity of the stream 11 relative to the mass quantity of the organic raffinate 8), of at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 75%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, and preferably at most 99%.Advantageously, the vaporization rate is defined as a function of the extraction solvent so as not to degrade the 5-HMF, but also in order to minimize the quantity of residual solvent to be removed in step e) while ensuring the absence of liquid phase separation (i.e. while ensuring that the liquid phase remains single-phase) when the concentrated organic raffinate 10 is brought into contact with water in step e).

[0117] By combining all the operating conditions of the preceding steps a), b) and c), and the optional step d), the concentrated organic raffinate 10 obtained at the end of step d) very advantageously has a 5-HMF content of at least 40% by weight relative to the weight of the concentrated organic raffinate, preferably at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 60% by weight, and preferably at most 95% by weight, preferably at most 90% by weight and preferably at most 85% by weight relative to the weight of the concentrated organic raffinate 10. In other words, the concentrated organic raffinate 10 preferably has a residual organic solvent content of at least 5% by weight relative to the weight of the concentrated organic raffinate, preferably at least 10% by weight, and preferably at most 60% by weight, preferably at most 50% weight, preferably not more than 40% by weight, relative to the weight of the concentrated organic raffinate 10.

[0118] Advantageously, the organic solvent vaporized during the optional step d) forms a first stream 11 comprising, preferably consisting of, organic solvent and is preferably recycled to the extraction step b).

[0119] Advantageously, the concentrated organic raffinate 10 is sent to hydrodistillation step e).

[0120] Step e) of hydrodistillation

[0121] The process according to the invention comprises a step e) of hydrodistillation carried out by distillation of the concentrated organic raffinate 10 resulting from the optional step d) or of the organic raffinate 8 resulting from step c) in the presence of water, so as to produce an aqueous solution 12 of 5-HMF and a second stream 13 comprising, preferably consisting of, organic solvent.

[0122] The hydrodistillation step e) advantageously makes it possible to eliminate, at least in part, the residual organic solvent not eliminated during the optional step d). The residual organic solvent eliminated during step e), i.e. the second stream 13 comprising organic solvent, can advantageously be recycled to the extraction step b), alone or in a mixture with the first stream 11 resulting from the optional step d).

[0123] Advantageously, an aqueous liquid 14 feeds the hydrodistillation step e). The aqueous liquid 14 introduced in step e) preferably contains more than 95% by weight of water, preferably more than 98% by weight of water.

[0124] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the aqueous liquid 14 is pure water, possibly external to the process, which makes it possible to further minimize the residual polar aprotic synthesis solvent content (e.g. DMSO) in the aqueous solution 12 of 5-HMF produced in step e). In another particular embodiment of the invention, water isolated within the process is used to feed step e), making it possible to limit the operating costs of the process and its environmental impact. Typically, if the process integrates the preparation of feedstock 1 and the sugar feedstock of the dehydration step is a sugar syrup at 70% by weight in water, approximately 1 ton of water is available at the end of the dehydration step (the water from the sugar feedstock and the water produced during the dehydration reaction) per ton of 5-HMF produced. This water, which is advantageously recovered, needs to be treated before being released into the environment.The process according to the invention can then advantageously use said water from the sugar feed and / or from the dehydration step to produce at the end of step e) an aqueous solution of 5-HMF concentrated preferably at 30% by weight or more, preferably at 40% by weight or more, and thus reduce the reprocessing costs of the process and its environmental impact.

[0125] Advantageously, the aqueous liquid 14 introduced in step e) may correspond to at least a fraction, possibly all, of the aqueous effluent 15 (distillate) produced in step g). Said distillate may possibly contain a residual quantity of aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO).

[0126] Advantageously, during step e), the extraction solvent used in the process forms a heterogeneous azeotrope with water, said azeotrope preferably being rich in extraction solvent, preferably comprising more than 50% by weight of extraction solvent, preferably more than 60% by weight of extraction solvent and preferably more than 70% by weight of extraction solvent. Advantageously, said water / extraction solvent azeotrope has a boiling point significantly lower than that of water, preferably at least 5°C lower than the boiling point of water, preferably at least 8°C lower than the boiling point of water and preferably at least 10°C lower than the boiling point of water.

[0127] Thus, after contacting the concentrated organic raffinate 10 or the organic raffinate 8 with the aqueous liquid 14, the residual organic solvent can be easily removed without degradation of the 5-HMF.

[0128] The hydrodistillation step e) may be carried out at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum and in particular at a pressure of between 0.001 MPa and 0.1 MPa, preferably under vacuum at a pressure of between 0.005 MPa and 0.08 MPa. Advantageously, the hydrodistillation step is carried out under vacuum, in particular at a pressure of between 0.001 MPa and 0.1 MPa, preferably between 0.005 MPa and 0.08 MPa, so as to facilitate the removal of the residual organic solvent without degradation of the 5-

[0129] HMF. Advantageously, hydrodistillation step e) is carried out in a distillation column, preferably at a column bottom temperature of less than or equal to 140°C, preferably less than or equal to 130°C, preferably less than or equal to 120°C, preferably less than or equal to 110°C and preferably less than or equal to 100°C, so as to facilitate the removal of the residual organic solvent without degradation of the 5-HMF.

[0130] In a particular embodiment, the concentrated organic raffinate 10 or failing that the organic raffinate 8 and the aqueous liquid 14 are mixed before introduction into a distillation column and the mixture is introduced at an intermediate point of the distillation column.

[0131] In another particular embodiment, the concentrated organic raffinate 10 or the organic raffinate 8 is introduced into the upper part of the distillation column, preferably into the upper half of the distillation column, while the aqueous liquid is also introduced into the distillation column. Mixing with the aqueous liquid is then carried out within the distillation column.

[0132] Given the formation of a heterogeneous azeotrope between the water and the extraction solvent, the condensation of the overhead vapors from the distillation column generates two liquid phases: a phase rich in water which can advantageously be returned to the column as reflux, and a phase rich in organic solvent 13 which can advantageously be recycled to the extraction step b).

[0133] According to the invention, the aqueous solution 12 of 5-HMF obtained at the end of step e) has a quantity of 5-HMF of at least 30% by weight, preferably at least 40% by weight, and preferably less than 90% by weight, preferably less than 85% by weight and more preferably less than 80% by weight, the percentages being given by weight of 5-HMF relative to the weight of aqueous solution of 5-HMF obtained at the end of step e).

[0134] The process according to the invention thus makes it possible to produce an aqueous solution of 5-HMF very advantageously having a weight content of aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) less than or equal to 10% by weight relative to the weight of 5-HMF, preferably less than or equal to 5% by weight relative to the weight of 5-HMF and preferably less than or equal to 3% by weight relative to the weight of 5-HMF.

[0135] Step f) liquid-solid separation

[0136] According to the invention, the method comprises a step f) of liquid-solid separation making it possible to reduce the content of solid particles formed by humins precipitated on at least one of the intermediate liquid stream 19 or the (final) aqueous raffinate 5, resulting from step b) of liquid-liquid extraction.

[0137] The liquid-liquid extraction step b) may induce a precipitation of solid, i.e. precipitated humins, independently of that which may occur in step a) or upstream of step a), and a fraction of solid particles generated during the liquid-liquid extraction or not eliminated by a possible liquid-solid separation in step a) may pose the problems already described. In order to preserve the equipment downstream of the liquid-liquid extraction step, and in particular the equipment used in step g) of treatment of the water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis and possibly at the end of the liquid-liquid extraction, a separation of the precipitated solid proves necessary.

[0138] Said separation is carried out on the intermediate liquid stream 19 if it is produced in step b), or on the (final) aqueous raffinate 5 produced in step b) the liquid-liquid extraction, or on both.

[0139] This liquid-solid separation step f) is preferably carried out at a temperature between 0 and 60°C, preferably between 5°C and 40°C and generally at room temperature (i.e. between 10°C and 40°C).

[0140] The liquid-solid separation step is preferably a simple liquid-solid separation and can be carried out by any method known to those skilled in the art, for example using a filter press, a belt filter, a clarifier, a decanter, a centrifuge, for example a plate centrifuge, said separation techniques being able to be used alone or in combination, in any order. Preferably, the liquid-solid separation step is a filtration, preferably carried out by a filter press.

[0141] The liquid-solid separation in step b) may include the addition of an additive facilitating the liquid-solid separation, for example the addition of diatomaceous earth in the case of filtration in order, for example, to accelerate the filtration or to improve the filtration in the case where the solid particles are too sticky.

[0142] According to one or more embodiments, as for example shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3, step b) produces an intermediate liquid stream 19 comprising said fraction of solid particles, and said intermediate liquid stream 19 is sent to step f) to separate said fraction of solid particles from said 19, and to form an intermediate liquid stream depleted in particles 20 which is sent to step b), typically to a second liquid-liquid extraction stage. The final aqueous raffinate 5 from step b) and sent to step g) does not comprise the fraction of solid particles from step b); the precipitated humins have in fact been eliminated by carrying out the separation on the intermediate liquid stream 19.

[0143] According to one or more embodiments, said intermediate liquid stream 19 sent to step f) is an intermediate aqueous raffinate comprising the solid particle fraction, which is produced by a separation between the extraction solvent and a water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture in the liquid-liquid extraction step b). Alternatively, the intermediate liquid stream 19 sent to step f) is a three-phase mixture comprising a first liquid phase comprising 5-HMF and extraction solvent (which may be designated as an intermediate extract), a second liquid phase comprising water and aprotic polar synthesis solvent (which may be designated as an intermediate raffinate), and a solid phase comprising the solid particle fraction.

[0144] A centrifugal three-phase separator can then be advantageously used to carry out in a single piece of equipment a separation of the 3 phases: intermediate raffinate, intermediate extract and solid phase comprising the precipitated humins (solid particle flow 18). Such equipment used for step f) can be that used at a stage of the liquid-liquid extraction b). Intermediate raffinate and intermediate extract respectively form the aqueous raffinate 5 and the organic extract 6.

[0145] According to one or more embodiments, such as for example represented in Figure 2, the aqueous raffinate 5 produced in step b) comprises said fraction of solid particles, and said aqueous raffinate 5 is sent to step f) to separate the fraction of solid particles from the aqueous raffinate 5, and to form an aqueous raffinate depleted in solid particles 5' sent to step g) as a water-solvent mixture for polar aprotic synthesis.

[0146] According to one or more embodiments, step f) is carried out both on the intermediate liquid stream 19 and on the final aqueous raffinate 5 produced in step b), separately, if these two effluents each contain solid particles formed by the precipitated humins. In this case, an aqueous raffinate depleted in solid particles is produced and sent to step g) as a water-solvent mixture for polar aprotic synthesis.

[0147] By intermediate liquid raffinate / intermediate aqueous raffinate / aqueous raffinate depleted in solid particles (precipitated humins) is meant a raffinate comprising less than 10% by weight of solid particles formed by precipitated humins, preferably less than 5% by weight, and more preferably less than 1% by weight.

[0148] Step g) of treatment of water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis

[0149] The process according to the invention comprises a step g) of treating water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) mixtures generated by the steps of the process according to the invention, to produce an aqueous effluent (also called distillate), which can be used in whole or in part in the backwashing step c) and / or in step a) and / or in step e). This step can also produce a stream 16 rich in aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) and an impurity stream 17. At least one water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture produced in the process is therefore treated in step g). Said mixture can be the aqueous raffinate depleted in 5' particles from step f) or the aqueous raffinate 5 not comprising the fraction of solid particles from step b).This step in fact makes it possible to separate within said at least one mixture (aqueous raffinate depleted in 5' particles from step f) or aqueous raffinate 5 not comprising the fraction of solid particles from step b)), water, the aprotic polar synthesis solvent and reaction products extracted in the raffinate such as unconverted sugars, sugar oligomers, residual 5-HMF.

[0150] One or more other water-solvent mixtures of polar aprotic synthesis produced within the process may be sent to step g).

[0151] If the method includes a step of synthesis of feedstock 1; i.e. a step of dehydration of a sugar feedstock as described above, and that (i) this step includes a concomitant extraction of water from the reaction medium or that (ii) this reaction step of dehydration of a sugar feedstock is preceded by a step of separation of the water contained in the sugar feedstock, in the case where the latter is initially in the form of a syrup, comprising the extraction and substitution of the water from the syrup with aprotic polar synthesis solvent, then the stream rich in synthesis solvent 16 can be purged of its water at the same time as the extraction of the water in these two cases (i) and (ii).

[0152] The residual quantity of aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) in the aqueous effluent produced at the end of step g) is all the lower the more efficiently the distillation is carried out according to the knowledge of a person skilled in the art.

[0153] The water-solvent mixtures of polar aprotic synthesis (eg DMSO) generated by the process designate in particular the aqueous raffinate 5 produced in step b) and depleted in solid particles in step f), and possibly the water-solvent mixture of polar aprotic synthesis (eg DMSO) resulting from the optional step of dehydration of sugars into 5-HMF when the process integrates such a step.

[0154] Step g) of treatment of water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis (eg DMSO) preferably uses a section of evaporation of a water-solvent mixture of aprotic polar synthesis (eg DMSO), to eliminate possible impurities in the form of stream 17, in particular heavy impurities such as humins or unconverted sugars, followed by a distillation section.

[0155] The evaporation section is operated at a temperature preferably between 80 and 120°C, preferably between 100 and 110°C, and preferably at a pressure between 0.002 MPa and 0.020 MPa, preferably between 0.005 MPa and 0.010 MPa. Preferably, the evaporation section is operated by a scraped film evaporator (Thin film Evaporator TFE).

[0156] The distillation section advantageously uses a distillation column or several separate pieces of equipment. Preferably, the distillation section of step g) is advantageously carried out in a distillation column, at a column top temperature preferably between 25 and 60°C, preferably between 45 and 55°C, for example approximately 50°C, preferably at a column bottom temperature between 80 and 140°C, preferably between 100 and 130°C, for example approximately 120°C, preferably at a pressure between 0.001 MPa and 0.05 MPa, preferably between 0.005 MPa and 0.02 MPa and preferably between 0.008 MPa and 0.012 MPa, and preferably with a reflux ratio between 0.01 and 0.50, preferably between 0.05 and 0.10.

[0157] Thus, the aqueous raffinate 5 produced in step b) and comprising water and aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) and optionally the water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) mixture recovered in the optional dehydration step are evaporated, then the gas phase is recovered and distilled, preferably under vacuum, so as to produce a residue 16 rich in aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) on the one hand, a distillate 15 rich in water (corresponding to the aqueous effluent) on the other hand, and, finally, a stream 17 containing the heavy fractions such as unfiltered humins and unconverted humin sugars. By rich is meant here at least 95% by weight, preferably at least 98% by weight. Part or all of the water-rich distillate, or aqueous effluent, may advantageously be recycled to step c) as an aqueous solvent to carry out the backwashing step and / or to step e) of hydrodistillation as an aqueous stream.Said water-rich distillate may also be, in whole or in part, recycled as water introduced in step a).

[0158] The residue rich in aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) can be advantageously introduced into the optional dehydration step, directly or after distillation, allowing the removal of heavy products which could accumulate.

[0159] The example and figures described in detail below illustrate the invention without limiting its scope.

[0160] Figure 1 illustrates a particular embodiment of the process according to the invention. The feedstock 1 containing 5-HMF, aprotic polar synthesis solvent (e.g. DMSO) and humins is sent to step a) and is brought into contact with an aqueous stream 21. The aqueous mixture 3 obtained at the end of step a) is sent to the extraction step b) and brought into contact with an extraction solvent 4 in order to extract the 5-HMF from the aqueous mixture by the extraction solvent and to obtain an aqueous raffinate 5 and an organic extract 6. The organic extract 6 is brought into contact with an aqueous solvent 7 in the backwashing step c). The organic raffinate 8 obtained at the end of step c) can be concentrated in the optional concentration step d) by removing the stream 11, the latter being able to be recycled to step b).The organic raffinate 8 obtained at the end of step c), or alternatively the concentrated organic raffinate 10 obtained at the end of step d) if it is implemented, is treated in a hydrodistillation step e) in order to eliminate the residual organic solvent 13, and to obtain the aqueous solution 12 of 5-HMF. Tl.

[0161] In this embodiment, the liquid-solid separation step f) is carried out during the liquid-liquid extraction, on an intermediate liquid stream removed from the liquid-liquid extraction step b): the intermediate aqueous raffinate 19 produced in step b) is treated in the liquid-solid separation step f). This liquid-solid separation makes it possible to extract the solid, i.e. the precipitated humins, precipitated in the upstream phases, in the form of a stream of solid particles 18, and to produce a clarified intermediate aqueous raffinate 20 which reintegrates the extraction step b).

[0162] The aqueous raffinate 5 from the liquid-liquid extraction step b) is sent to step g) for treating the water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixtures. Step g) produces an aqueous effluent 15, an enriched aprotic polar synthesis solvent stream 16 and a heavy fraction stream 17 containing the unfiltered humins and the unconverted sugars (humins and sugars being in a liquid form although very viscous at the mixture treatment temperature).

[0163] Figure 2 illustrates another particular embodiment of the method according to the invention which is identical to that shown in Figure 1, except that the liquid-solid separation step f) is carried out downstream of the liquid-liquid extraction step b), on the aqueous raffinate obtained at the end of step b). In the embodiment shown, the precipitated humins forming solid particles are present in the aqueous raffinate obtained at the end of step b), which is sent to the liquid-solid separation step f) to separate said solid particles from the rest of the aqueous raffinate and produce a stream of solid particles 18 and said aqueous raffinate depleted in particles 5'. The latter is sent to step g) of treatment of the water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis, which operates in the same way as described for Figure 1.

[0164] Figure 3 illustrates another particular embodiment of the method according to the invention which is identical to that shown in Figure 1, except that it includes the following specific features:

[0165] - a liquid-solid separation step is carried out on the mixture 3 formed in step a) to separate precipitated humins (solid particles) in step a) from the rest of said mixture, producing a solid stream 2;

[0166] - the method comprises the step d) of concentrating the organic raffinate 8 produced in the backwashing step c) to produce a concentrated organic raffinate 10 and an extraction solvent stream 11, said extraction solvent stream 11 being advantageously recycled to step b) and introduced with the extraction solvent 4;

[0167] - the aqueous stream 21 used in step a) of mixing comprises recycled water from the process, in particular the aqueous stream 21 is constituted by the backwash extract 9 and a fraction of the aqueous effluent 15 produced in step g) of treatment of the water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis.

[0168] - the aqueous solvent 7 used in step c) of backwashing consists of a fraction of the aqueous effluent 15 produced in step g) of treatment of the water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis and the make-up water 22 (i.e. external to the process, in other words neither produced nor derived from a recycle in the process). Alternatively, the aqueous solvent 7 used in step c) of backwashing consists of a fraction of the aqueous effluent 15 produced in step g), without make-up water. In this case, make-up water can be sent to step a), to form the aqueous stream 21 which comprises a fraction of the aqueous effluent 15 produced in step g). The supply of make-up water to the process may be necessary despite the water recycles carried out;

[0169] - the aqueous stream 14 used in step e) of hydrodistillation consists of a fraction of the aqueous stream 15 produced in step g) of treatment of the water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis;

[0170] - the extraction solvent 4 used in extraction step b) is composed of the solvent streams produced in steps d) and e). In other words, the organic solvent streams 11 and 13 produced respectively in steps d) and e) are recycled to step b), and in particular form part of the composition of the extraction solvent 4.

[0171] This embodiment therefore comprises a recycle of the aqueous effluent 15 from step g) of treatment of the water-solvent mixtures of aprotic polar synthesis to steps a), c) and e), and a recycle of the organic solvent streams 11 and 13 to step b) of liquid-liquid extraction, which allows on the one hand optimal management of the water within the process by integrating its treatment within the process and avoiding excessive water additions, and on the other hand minimizes the consumption of extraction solvent, the whole having ultimately a favorable impact on the operating costs and the environmental impact of the process.

[0172] List of numerical references used in the figures:

[0173] 1: charge

[0174] 2: solid flow

[0175] 3: aqueous mixture

[0176] 4: extraction solvent

[0177] 5: aqueous raffinate

[0178] 6: organic extract

[0179] 7: aqueous solvent

[0180] 8: organic raffinate

[0181] 9: intermediate aqueous counter-extract

[0182] 10: concentrated organic raffinate

[0183] 11: first stream comprising organic solvent

[0184] 12: aqueous solution of 5-HMF

[0185] 13: second stream comprising organic solvent.

[0186] 14: aqueous liquid 15: aqueous effluent

[0187] 16: stream rich in aprotic polar synthesis solvent (or rich “residue”)

[0188] 17: impurity flow (or heavy fraction flow)

[0189] 18: solid particle flow

[0190] 19: intermediate liquid flow

[0191] 20: intermediate liquid flow depleted in particles

[0192] 21: aqueous flow

[0193] 22: water supply

[0194] EXAMPLE

[0195] Preparation of an aqueous solution 12 of 5-HMF according to the invention.

[0196] The example below aims to show some of the advantages of the method according to the invention, operated according to the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

[0197] An acid catalyst, methanesulfonic acid, is mixed with DMSO used as a polar aprotic synthesis solvent, such that the molar ratio with the sugar feedstock (catalyst / sugar feedstock) is 1 mol%, and they are brought to a temperature of 120°C. Fructose is introduced in the form of an aqueous solution, at 70% by weight in sugar (syrup), in a DMSO / fructose mass ratio of 2.3. The pressure is maintained at 0.035 MPa. Under these pressure and temperature conditions, the reaction medium is above the bubble point of the mixture, so the vapor phase can be withdrawn from the reactor, and condensed to form the condensates. The sugar dehydration step is carried out batchwise with a progressive addition of feedstock over 2 h. The reaction medium is maintained at the temperature and pressure indicated above for an additional 2 h after the addition is complete.

[0198] The liquid effluent from the dehydration step contains 74% by weight of DMSO, 21% by weight of 5-HMF, 3% by weight of water, i.e. a molar yield of 5-HMF relative to the fructose used of 81%. Polymeric compounds (called humins) soluble in the reaction medium were formed at a rate of 5% by weight. During this dehydration step, a water-DMSO mixture is recovered in the vapor phase. Said water-DMSO mixture has a composition of 32% by weight of DMSO and 68% of water. This water-DMSO mixture is distilled under vacuum to produce water containing only traces of DMSO.

[0199] The liquid effluent from the dehydration step corresponding to feed 1 is engaged in a step a) of contacting with a stream containing water, at room temperature, so as to obtain a mixture which contains a DMSO / water mass ratio equal to 1. The mixture from step a) is subjected to a liquid-solid separation step, on a Büchner filter equipped with a polypropylene cloth filter with a pore size of 10 μm. This liquid-solid separation step is carried out at room temperature. During the liquid-solid separation step, 7.5 g of a solid residue "humins" / kg of filtered mixture are recovered, as well as a homogeneous liquid phase corresponding to the aqueous mixture 3. The aqueous mixture 3 is composed of 43% by weight of DMSO, 12% by weight of 5-HMF and 43% by weight of water and includes impurities (approximately 2% by weight of humins).

[0200] The aqueous mixture 3 from step a) is subjected to a countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction step b) in a stirred column (Kühni or ECR type) made of glass comprising 8 sections 225 mm high and with an internal diameter of 32 mm, as well as a lower decanter and an upper decanter. The useful height is approximately 1.8 m and the total height of the column is 2.60 m. The total volume is approximately 3 liters. The organic extraction solvent is methyl isobutyl ketone (or MIBK for methylisobutyl ketone according to English terminology). Said aqueous mixture 3 is introduced into the upper part of the device and dispersed in the ascending organic phase. The column inlet flow rates are set at 2.2 kg / h for the DMSO-water phase and at 4.1 kg / h for MIBK. The proportion (weight / weight) of MIBK solvent is 1.9 compared to the aqueous mixture 3 from step a). In this step b), the temperature is 20°C and the stirring speed is 300 rpm.

[0201] The aqueous raffinate from the liquid-liquid extraction column enters step f) which here is a filtration on a Büchner equipped with a polypropylene cloth filter with a pore size of 1 μm. This liquid-solid separation step f) is carried out at room temperature. During the liquid-solid separation step f), 7.0 g of a solid residue "humins" / kg of filtered mixture are recovered, as well as a homogeneous liquid phase corresponding to aqueous raffinate depleted in solid particles also called clarified aqueous raffinate 20.

[0202] In this particular embodiment, the clarified aqueous raffinate 20 forms the aqueous raffinate 5 produced at the end of step b).

[0203] At the end of step b), an aqueous raffinate 5 depleted in 5-HMF containing approximately 48% by weight of water, 48.5% by weight of DMSO, 0.4% by weight of 5-HMF, 1.8% by weight of MIBK, and humic impurities, and an organic extract 6 enriched in furanic compounds containing 2.8% by weight of DMSO, 5.9% by weight of 5-HMF (i.e. a 5-HMF / DMSO weight ratio of approximately 68 / 32), 91.3% by weight of MIBK are recovered. The extraction yield is 97% for 5-HMF and 13% for DMSO.

[0204] The aqueous raffinate 5 is treated in step g) of treatment of the water-DMSO mixture. The evaporation of the water and DMSO is carried out sequentially in a batch distillation system with a first stage operated at a pressure of 0.008 MPa and 80°C which makes it possible to recover the MIBK present in the aqueous raffinate 5 and almost all of the water as well as a large part of the DMSO, until a DMSO content in the residue of 50% by weight is reached, i.e. an evaporation rate of approximately 93%. A second stage operated at 0.0005 MPa is stopped when the temperature of the medium reaches 90°C. At this stage, the heavy product contains only 20% by weight of DMSO and approximately 95% of the DMSO present in the aqueous raffinate 5 is recovered.

[0205] The organic extract 6 from step b) of liquid-liquid extraction is subjected to a step c) of backwashing in the same extraction device (Kühni type stirred column or ECR). Said organic extract is dispersed in the pure water phase, at 21.5°C. The flow rates at the column inlet are fixed at 5 kg / h for the organic extract and at 1.5 kg / h for the aqueous phase. The proportion (weight / weight) of water introduced as aqueous backwash solvent relative to the organic extract is 0.3.

[0206] At the end of the backwashing step c), an intermediate aqueous back-extract 9 enriched with DMSO containing 86% by weight of water, 7% by weight of DMSO, 5% by weight of 5-HMF and 2% by weight of MIBK is recovered, and an organic raffinate 8, containing 4.3% by weight of 5-HMF, 0.092% by weight of DMSO (i.e. 2.1% by weight of DMSO relative to the weight of 5-HMF) and 88% by weight of MIBK, i.e. a backwashing yield of T1% by weight for 5-HMF and 95% by weight for DMSO.

[0207] The organic raffinate 8 produced is sent to concentration step d). The solvent vaporization is carried out under vacuum. The liquid temperature is set at 60°C, and the vacuum level at 0.02 MPa.

[0208] Step d) is carried out with a vaporization mass rate of 95%, corresponding to the mass of vaporized organic solvent relative to the mass of organic raffinate from step c) used. The concentrated organic raffinate obtained at the end of step d) has a mass rate of 5-HMF of 84% by weight, 2% by weight in DMSO and 9% by weight in MIBK. The 5-HMF content of the concentrated organic raffinate (84% by weight) is in accordance with what is expected (at least 40% by weight and at most 95% by weight), as is its residual solvent content of 11% by weight (sum of 9% of MIBK + 2% of DMSO) which is in accordance with the expected value (at least 5% by weight and at most 60% by weight). The concentrated organic raffinate obtained at the end of step d) also comprises humic impurities (5% by weight). The recovered distillate contains mainly MIBK and water, removed in the form of an azeotrope with MIBK, which separates into two immiscible phases during condensation.

[0209] The concentrated organic raffinate from step d) is brought into contact with pure water, with a water / concentrated extract mass ratio of 0.95, then sent to a hydrodistillation step e) carried out by distillation. The hydrodistillation step e) is carried out at a column bottom temperature of 35°C, and under a vacuum of 0.01 MPa, so as to facilitate the removal of the residual MIBK organic solvent, in the form of a water / MIBK azeotrope without degradation of the 5-HMF. The aqueous 5-HMF solution obtained at the end of step e) has a composition of 45% by weight of 5-HMF, 53.3% by weight of water, 1% by weight of DMSO (i.e. 2.2% by weight of DMSO relative to the weight of 5-HMF) and 0.7% by weight of MIBK.

Claims

Claims 1. A process for producing an aqueous solution of hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), said process comprising the following steps: - a step a) of bringing into contact a charge (1) comprising 5-HMF and an aprotic polar synthesis solvent with an aqueous stream (21), so as to obtain at least one aqueous mixture (3); - a step b) of liquid-liquid extraction of the aqueous mixture (3) obtained at the end of step a) in the presence of an extraction solvent (4), so as to produce an aqueous raffinate (5) comprising said aprotic polar synthesis solvent, an organic extract (6), a fraction of solid particles, and optionally an intermediate liquid stream (19), said aqueous raffinate (5) and / or said intermediate liquid stream (19) comprising said fraction of solid particles; then - a step c) of backwashing the organic extract (6) with an aqueous solvent (7), so as to produce an intermediate aqueous back-extract (9) and an organic raffinate (8) comprising 5-HMF and an organic solvent; - an optional step d) of concentrating said organic raffinate (8) from step c) by removing at least part of the organic solvent, producing a concentrated organic raffinate (10) comprising 5-HMF, and residual organic solvent, and producing a first stream (11) comprising organic solvent; - a step e) of hydrodistillation carried out by distillation of said organic raffinate (8) resulting from step c) or of said concentrated organic raffinate (10) resulting from step d) in the presence of water, to produce an aqueous solution of 5-HMF (12) and a second stream (13) comprising organic solvent; - a step f) of liquid-solid separation of said solid fraction within said aqueous raffinate (5) resulting from step b) and / or said intermediate liquid stream (19) resulting from step b), producing a stream of solid particles (18) and an aqueous raffinate depleted in solid particles (5') and / or an intermediate liquid stream depleted in particles (20) sent to step b); - a step g) of treating at least one water-solvent mixture of aprotic polar synthesis produced in said process, said mixture consisting of said aqueous raffinate depleted in particles (5') from step f) or said aqueous raffinate (5) not comprising the fraction of solid particles from step b), to produce at least one aqueous effluent (15) recyclable in said process.

2. Method according to claim 1, in which step b) produces the intermediate liquid stream (19) comprising said fraction of solid particles, and said intermediate liquid stream (19) is sent to step f) to separate said fraction of solid particles from said intermediate liquid stream (19), forming said intermediate liquid stream depleted in particles (20) sent to step b), and at least said water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture consisting of said aqueous raffinate (5) not comprising the fraction of solid particles from step b) is sent to step g).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said intermediate liquid stream (19) sent to step f) is an intermediate aqueous raffinate comprising said solid particle fraction produced by a separation between said extraction solvent and a water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture in liquid-liquid extraction step b).

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein said intermediate liquid stream (19) sent to step f) is a three-phase mixture comprising a first liquid phase comprising 5-HMF and extraction solvent, a second liquid phase comprising water and aprotic polar synthesis solvent, and a solid phase comprising said fraction of solid particles.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said aqueous raffinate (5) produced in step b) comprises said fraction of solid particles, and said aqueous raffinate (5) is sent to step f) to separate said fraction of solid particles from said aqueous raffinate (5), forming said aqueous raffinate depleted in solid particles (5') sent to step g) as a water-aprotic polar synthesis solvent mixture.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which step f) is carried out at a temperature between 0 and 60°C, and preferably comprises filtration, preferably carried out by a filter press.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising step d) of concentrating the organic raffinate (8) from step c) comprising vaporization of the organic solvent at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum, preferably at a pressure of between 0.01 MPa and 0.1 MPa, and a liquid temperature maintained less than or equal to 130°C, said concentrated organic raffinate (10) comprising 5-HMF at a content greater than or equal to 40% by weight and residual organic solvent at a content less than or equal to 60% by weight.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which step e) is carried out at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum, preferably at a pressure of between 0.001 MPa and 0.1 MPa, and preferably under vacuum at a pressure of between 0.005 MPa and 0.08 MPa. Process according to one of the preceding claims, in which step e) is carried out in a distillation column, preferably at a column bottom temperature of less than or equal to 140°C. Process according to one of the preceding claims, in which the extraction solvent (4) is chosen from dichloromethane, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, thiophene, anisole and toluene, and preferably is methyl isobutyl ketone. Process according to one of the preceding claims, in which the weight ratio (weight / weight) of aqueous solvent (7) relative to the organic extract (6) in the backwashing step c) is between 0.04 and 5.Process according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of dehydrating the sugars to 5-HMF upstream of step a), preferably by bringing a sugar feedstock comprising one or more sugars into contact with said polar aprotic synthesis solvent and an acid dehydration catalyst, preferably at a temperature of between 30°C and 200°C and at a pressure of between 0.001 MPa and 10 MPa. Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said aqueous effluent produced in step g) is used in whole or in part in step a) and / or in step c) and / or in step e). Process according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step a) said aqueous stream (21) comprises all or a fraction of said intermediate aqueous counter-extract (9) from step c).A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said polar aprotic synthesis solvent is selected from pyridine, butan-2-one, acetone, acetic anhydride, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylurea, benzonitrile, acetonitrile, methyl ethyl ketone, propionitrile, hexamethylphosphoramide, nitrobenzene, nitromethane, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, sulfolane, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, propylene carbonate and y-valerolactone, taken alone or as a mixture, and is preferably dimethyl sulfoxide.

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