Abstract: The conversion of sweet sorghum stalk juice rich in sucrose, glucose and fructose to furan compounds (5-hydroxymethylfurfural or furfural) was investigated over Hβ zeolite in γ-butyrolactone solvent. The results indicated that the main product for the conversion of sweet sorghum stalk juice (SSSJ) was 5-hydroxymethylfurfural; however, high yield of furfural was obtained in the conversion of model sweet sorghum stalk juice (MSSSJ) containing the same amount of hexose under the same conditions. The ²⁷Al MAS NMR results showed that ion-exchange took place between the Hβ zeolite and alkaline ions (mainly potassium) in the sweet sorghum stalk juice, resulting in the transformation of octahedrally coordinated aluminum into tetrahedrally coordinated framework aluminum. As an appropriate configuration environment of aluminum for Hβ was necessary for the formation of furfural from hexose, high yield of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was achieved for the conversion of sweet sorghum stalk juice (SSSJ) due to the ion-exchange of Hβ with alkaline ions.