The study of factors influencing the depolymerisation of cellulose using a solid catalyst in ionic liquids

Cellulose is the most abundant biomass in the world and constitutes a large fraction of plant biomass. The tight hydrogen-bonding network and van der Waals interactions greatly stabilise cellulose, making it notoriously resistant to hydrolysis. Hence, more efficient pre-treatment procedures are required for the conversion of cellulose to monosaccharides. In this study, the depolymerisation of cellulose and wood in ILs using a solid catalyst is performed successfully. Depolymerisation produces three types of substances: total reducing sugar (TRS), glucose and ethanol. With Avicel, yields of TRS, glucose and ethanol are 76.3% (w/w), 17.2% (w/w) and 4.2% (w/w), respectively. With wood, yields of TRS, glucose and ethanol are 25.6% (w/w), 11.5% (w/w) and 7.7% (w/w), respectively. The time courses of product yields indicates that the depolymerisation of cellulose in [C(4)mim]Cl, using Dowex, is similar to the depolymerisation with concentrated H(2)SO(4). (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.