Synthesis and acid catalysis of cellulose-derived carbon-based solid acid

SO3H-bearing amorphous carbon, prepared by partial carbonization of cellulose followed by sulfonation in fuming H2SO4, was applied as a solid catalyst for the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of beta-1,4 glucan, including cellobiose and crystalline cellulose. Structural analyses revealed that the resulting carbon material consists of graphene sheets with 1.5 mmol g(-1) of SO3H groups, 0.4 mmol g(-1) of COOH, and 5.6 mmol g(-1) of phenolic OH groups. The carbon catalyst showed high catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds in both cellobiose and crystalline cellulose. Pure crystalline cellulose was not hydrolyzed by conventional strong solid Bronsted acid catalysts such as niobic acid, Nafion (R) NR-50, and Amberlyst-15, whereas the carbon catalyst efficiently hydrolyzes cellulose into water-soluble saccharides. The catalytic performance of the carbon catalyst is due to the large adsorption capacity for hydrophilic reactants and the adsorption ability of beta-1,4 glucan, which is not adsorbed to other solid acids. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.