Influence of relative proportions of cellulose and lignin on carbon-based solid acid for cellulose hydrolysis

A series of carbon-based solid acids (CSAs) were respectively prepared by the different relative proportions of cellulose and lignin to simulate biomass, and employed to hydrolyze cellulose. The influence of relative proportions of cellulose and lignin on mixture-derived CSA (MCSA) has been investigated in detail. Differences in the structure and performance of MCSAs were found to be obvious. The micro crystalline structure parameters, adsorption capability and hydrolysis activity of MCSA present regular variation trend with the increase of cellulose proportions, which can be attributed to the interaction of cellulose and lignin during co-carbonization. When cellulose proportion is 50%, the co-carbonization is at a turning point, the carbon skeleton of MCSA is more flexible and disordered with larger interlamellar spacing and more C-O-C bond. Meanwhile, MCSA exhibits remarkable adsorption capability, and the hydrolysis activity is comparable to that of cellulose-derived CSA. (C) 2017 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.