Aquivion®-carbon composites via hydrothermal carbonization: amphiphilic catalysts for solvent-free biphasic acetalization

One-pot hydrothermal carbonization of polysaccharides (i.e. guar gum or cellulose) with Aquivion (R) perfluorosulfonic superacid at 180 degrees C produced new amphiphilic Aquivion (R)-carbon composites. The materials stabilized dodecyl aldehyde/ethyleneglycol Pickering emulsions, and thus efficiently catalyzed the solvent-free biphasic acetalization reaction under moderate conditions with excellent reusability.