Cellulose-derived carbon bearing -Cl and -SO3H groups as a highly selective catalyst for the hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose

solid acid catalyst (HA-CC-SO3H) was synthesized by the sulfonation of amorphous carbon derived from the carbonization of dilute hydrochloric acid-pretreated microcrystalline cellulose. It was found that Cl- ions are grafted onto the cellulose-derived carbon and affect the composition and structure of the carbon carrier during the carbonization process. The electrons of the aromatic carbons transfer to -Cl and -SO3H groups, which influence their electronic state. In the cellulose hydrolysis process, the active electronic states make the -Cl groups more liable to form hydrogen bonds with cellulose, and the -SO3H groups with stronger acidity easily break the glycosidic bonds of cellulose to produce glucose. The HA-CC-SO3H catalyst exhibits excellent glucose selectivity (95.8%) at a moderate temperature (155 degrees C) under hydrothermal conditions.