Conversion of fructose and glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with lignin-derived carbonaceous catalyst under microwave irradiation in dimethyl sulfoxide–ionic liquid mixtures

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was successfully produced by the dehydration of fructose and glucose using lignin-derived solid acid catalyst in DMSO-[BMIM][Cl] (dimethyl sulfoxide and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) mixtures. Six solid acid catalysts were synthesized by carbonization and sulfonation of raw biomass materials, i.e., glucose, fructose, cellulose, lignin, bamboo and Jatropha hulls. It was found that lignin-derived solid acid catalyst (LCC) was the most active one in the dehydration of sugars. LCC coupled with microwave irradiation was used for the 5-HMF production, 84% 5-HMF yield with 98% fructose conversion rate was achieved at 110 °C for 10 min. Furthermore, 99% glucose was converted with 68% 5-HMF yield under severer condition (160 °C for 50 min). LCC was recycled for five times, 5-HMF yield declined only 7%. Use of LCC combined with DMSO-[BMIM][Cl] solution and microwave irradiation is a novel method for the effective production of 5-HMF.