Hydrolysis of cellulose into reducing sugars in ionic liquids

An effective method was developed for the production of reducing sugars (RS) from the hydrolysis of cellulose over a magnetic acid catalyst. The sulfonation of the core-shell structured Fe3O4@C with Fe3O4 as a magnetic core could generate the magnetic acid catalyst (Fe3O4@C-SO3H). The hydrolysis of cellulose was performed under several crucial conditions. Hydrolysis of cellulose in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) was greatly affected by the content of water. The highest RS yield and glucose selectivity were obtained in 72.1% and 82.5% at 110 degrees C after 3 h with the weight ratio of [BMIM]Cl to water being 20. It should be mentioned that this catalyst not only owns the high stability but also can be facile recovered by an external magnet. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.