Abstract Solid catalyst systems comprised of ruthenium hydroxide supported on magnesium- based carrier materials (spinel, magnesium oxide and hydrotalcite) were investigated for the selective, aqueous aerobic oxidation of the biomass-derived chemical 5- hydroxymethylfurfural into 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDA), a possible plastics precursor. The novel catalyst systems were characterized by nitrogen physisorption, XRPD, TEM and ...