One-step preparation of carbonaceous solid acid catalysts by hydrothermal carbonization of glucose for cellulose hydrolysis

•One-step synthesis of carbonaceous solid acid catalysts with SO3H or COOH groups•Solid acid prepared from the hydrothermal carbonization of glucose•Carbonaceous material without any post-modification or in-situ functionalization•Efficient for cellulose hydrolysis in ionic liquid

Carbonaceous materials (CM-SO3H, CM-COOH) were prepared and functionalized in-situ in a single step with SO3H or COOH groups by hydrothermal carbonization of glucose in the presence of sulfosalicylic acid or acrylic acid as co-monomer. The prepared materials were evaluated as solid acid catalysts and exhibited good catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of cellulose in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]). Remarkably, the carbonaceous materials obtained by the hydrothermal carbonization of glucose could be used directly for the catalytic hydrolysis of cellulose without any post-modification or in-situ functionalization and were surprisingly efficient.

Graphical abstractIt is reported for the first time that carbonaceous material prepared from the hydrothermal carbonization of glucose could be used directly without any post-modification, and exhibited good catalytic activity for hydrolysis of cellulose as solid acid catalyst.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide