Clean production of glucose from polysaccharides using a micellar heteropolyacid as a heterogeneous catalyst

Hydrolysis of polysaccharides into glucose was performed over a micellar heteropolyacid (HPA) catalyst [C16H33N(CH3)(3)]H2PW12O40 (abbreviated as C16H2PW). This micellar heterogeneous catalyst exhibited high selectivity and activity in the hydrolysis of polysaccharides, such as starch and cellulose. Hydrolysis velocities of starch and cellulose were 0.019 and 0.006 g/h at 120 degrees C and 170 degrees C, respectively. The results demonstrated that C16H2PW is an effective catalyst for the production of glucose and can be reused. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.