Saccharification of cellulosic biomass using sulfonated mesoporous carbon‐based catalysts

Abstract

A series of sulfonated mesoporous carbon‐based catalysts with intact silica template (MC) were prepared through incomplete carbonization of sucrose followed by sulfonation. The MC catalysts were characterized by use of Fourier Transform‐infrared spectra, N2 adsorption–desorption, and titration method. The effects of preparation conditions such as carbonization temperature, amount of carbon precursor, sulfonation time, and temperature on the structural and acidic properties of the catalysts were investigated. Preparation conditions such as amount of carbon precursor, sulfonation time, and temperature significantly influenced the surface area and acidic properties of MC catalysts. The activity of prepared catalysts in saccharification was tested using cellulose and rice straw as substrates and high saccharification yield can be obtained using these catalysts. In saccharification of cellulose without pretreatment, the highest yield of 25.2% of C6 monosaccharide can be attained after reaction at 180°C for 3 h. In saccharification of rice straw, the total monosaccharide yield of 43.4% can be achieved after reaction at 150°C for 1 h. In addition, it was found that despite the versatility of mesoporous structure in varied chemical reactions has been confirmed, acid amount was the most important property that determined the effectivity of cellulose saccharification. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 574–581, 2016