Preparation of poly(p-styrenesulfonic acid) grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes and their application as a solid-acid catalyst

▶ Poly(p-styenesulfonate acid)-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PSSA-g-MWCNTs) were successfully prepared by a facile in situ polymerization strategy. ▶ The PSSA-g-MWCNTs showed high catalytic activity in the esterification of lauric acid with methanol, and could be easily separated from the product by filtration. ▶ The catalytic activity of PSSA-g-MWCNTs showed no detectable change even after recycling after being used for three times.