Efficient hydrolysis of cellulose into sugars in aqueous systems using fibrous core-shell structure FS@C/HPW

Abstract

Phosphotungstic acid hydrate (HPW)-doped hydroxyl-rich hydrothermal carbon-coated fibrous silica catalyst (FS@C/HPW) is fabricated to induce the highly efficient hydrolysis of cellulose to sugar in an ultra-low acid aqueous system. The obtained FS90@C/HPW12 owns good thermal stability under 200 °C and the highest specific surface area at 28 m2/g. Owing to its special fibrous microstructures, FS90@C/HPW12 can cause linear damage and structural fragmentation on the surface of cellulose during hydrolysis. Accordingly, rather highly efficient hydrolysis with the cellulose conversion of 100 %, total reducing sugar and glucose yields at 92.2 % and over 85 % is achieved in the aqueous system with FS90@C/HPW12 and 5 mmol/L H2SO4. FS90@C/HPW12 also exhibits good reusability in multiple hydrolysis. This research provides a particular way for the design and synthesis of solid catalysts to induce the highly efficient hydrolysis of cellulose to sugar by chemical catalysis in a full aqueous system.