Sulfonic acid catalyst based on silica foam supported copolymer for hydrolysis of cellulose

Mesocellular silicon foam supported poly(chloromethylstyrene-co-divinylbenzene) (MCF-copolymer) was synthesized. It has a pore size of 242 nm. The pore volume and the surface area were 0.84 cm(3)/g and 246.9 m(2)/g, respectively. MCF-copolymer supported sulfonic acid was accomplished via sulfonation with concentrated sulfuric acid. The acid amount on the MCF-copolymer was 2.03 mmol/g. Hydrolysis of banana pseudo-stem fibers and microcrystalline cellulose was carried out over the catalyst. The large pore size favors the diffusion of molecules in catalyzing bulky molecules. The corresponding catalytic turnover frequencies (TOF) were 5.57 h(-1) and 8.066 h(-1). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.