One-pot synthesis of a novel catalyst with strong acid sites based on carbon/silica composite

A novel catalyst with strong acid sites based on carbon/silica composite has been synthesized through one-pot hydrothermal carbonization of hydroxyethylsulfonic acid, glucose and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The novel solid acid showed an acidity of 2.1 mmol/g, much higher than that of traditional solid acids such as Nafion and Amberlyst-15 (0.8 mmol/g). The catalytic activity of the solid acid was investigated in the acetalization and dimerization of alpha-methylstyrene. The results showed that the novel solid acid was very efficient for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic acid-catalyzed reactions. Because of the high acidity and catalytic activity the novel solid acid based on carbon/silica composite is a promising catalyst for the processes in green chemistry.