Impacts of acidity and textural properties of oxidized carbon materials on their catalytic activity for hydrolysis of cellobiose

• Micro- and mesoporous carbons were oxidized by HNO3.
• The oxidation dramatically influences textural properties of carbons.
• The oxidized carbons were tested as catalysts for hydrolysis of cellobiose.
• Catalytic activity is mainly controlled by acidity of the oxidized carbons.

Hydrolysis of cellobiose was investigated in the presence of oxidized carbon materials with different textural properties and concentrations of surface acidic groups. Specifically, oxidized microporous activated carbon, graphite-like mesoporous Sibunit carbon, and graphite-like multi-walled carbon nanotubes were studied. Catalytic activity was found to correlate with the concentration of surface acidic sites. Activated carbon oxidized with HNO3 at 130 °C exhibited superior catalytic activity due to highest acidity of this material. The catalytic performance was predominantly dependent on acidity, while textural properties only played a minor role, and no mass transfer limitations were observed for microporous catalysts.

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