Preparation of a novel sulfonated carbon catalyst for the etherification of isopentene with methanol to produce tert-amyl methyl ether

A novel method for the preparation of acid carbon catalyst from glucose and 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid (p-HBSA) was reported. Glucose was first hydrolyzed to hydroxymethylfurfural that reacted with p-HBSA (a phenol compound) to form a phenolic (PF)-like resin containing –SO3H groups. The resin was carbonized and sulfonated further in concentrated sulfuric acid at 443 K to form an amorphous carbon material with a surface area of 22 m2/g. This acidic carbon contained 3.1 mmol/g of strong surface acid sites (–SO3H), and thus exhibited good catalytic activity for the etherification of isopentene with methanol to produce tert-amyl methyl ether.