One-step preparation of carbonaceous solid acid catalysts by hydrothermal carbonization of glucose for cellulose hydrolysis

Carbonaceous materials (CM-SO3H, CM-COOH) were prepared and functionalized in-situ in a single step with -SO3H or -COOH groups by hydrothermal carbonization of glucose in the presence of sulfosalicylic acid or acrylic acid as co-monomer. The prepared materials were evaluated as solid acid catalysts and exhibited good catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of cellulose in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]). Remarkably, the carbonaceous materials obtained by the hydrothermal carbonization of glucose could be used directly for the catalytic hydrolysis of cellulose without any post-modification or in-situ functionalization and were surprisingly efficient. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.