Hydrolysis of Cellulose Selectively into Glucose Over Sulfonated Activated-Carbon Catalyst Under Hydrothermal Conditions

A sulfonated activated-carbon (AC-SO3H) catalyst selectively hydrolyzes cellulose with beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds into glucose in the catalytic hydrothermal reactions at temperatures around 423 K. The AC-SO3H catalyst with the hydrothermal pre-treatment has the excellent catalytic properties attributed to the high hydrothermal stability and the strong acid sites of sulfo functional groups.