Mesoporous tantalum phosphate was prepared from tantalum tartrate and ammonium phosphate monobasic in the presence of an ionic surfactant at room temperature, and subsequent calcined at 550 degrees C. This solid exhibits a high specific surface area (256 m(2) g(-1)) and strong acidity (1.48 mmol NH3 g(-1)),and it has been successfully used as solid acid catalyst in the dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in a biphasic water/methyl isobutyl ketone medium. By using a glucose:catalyst weight ratio of 3:1, a glucose conversion of 56.3% and a HMF yield of 32.8% were achieved at 170 degrees C, and after only 1 h of reaction time. The reaction is very selective towards HMF, which is the unique product detected and moreover it is preserved from ulterior hydration to levulinic acid. Fructose was never found as byproduct in the reaction. The catalyst is very stable under these experimental conditions, since no leaching of phosphorus or tantalum species to the liquid phase was found. The catalytic performance of this acid solid is well maintained after three catalytic cycles. The high catalytic activity of this mesoporous solid in the dehydration of glucose could be associated to its high acidity and the presence of both Bronsted and Lewis acid sites, which are maintained in water. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.