Effect of linkers (aliphatic/ aromatic) and anions on the activity of sulfonic acid functionalized ionic liquids towards catalyzing the hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose-an experimental and theoretical study

Firdaus Parveen, Meha Jaiswal and Sreedevi Upadhyayula

Renewable Energy, 2018, vol. 121, issue C, 590-596

Abstract: The conversion of renewable lignocellulosic biomass to alternative fuels seems a promising solution to the problem of depleting fossil fuels, global warming. In this work, hydrolysis of biomass-derived cellulose was investigated using SO3H functionalized imidazole based ionic liquids (ILs) with different aliphatic or aromatic linkers and anionic functionalities. These multifunctional ILs were synthesized in the laboratory and characterized using NMR, TGA, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. ILs consisting of an aliphatic linker and triflate anion exhibited highest catalytic activity in cellulose hydrolysis with Total Reducing Sugar (TRS) yield of 93% at 100 °C and 90 min reaction time. Density Functional Theory (DFT) was used to calculate the acidity trends of the prepared catalysts and validated experimentally using FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. ILs with aliphatic linker attached SO3H group showed better catalytic performance as compared to aromatic or directly attached SO3H group despite being less acidic. This was confirmed by TG analysis which showed the presence of water molecules in the aromatic and directly attached SO3H (IL1 & 3). Overall this report illustrates significant improvement over the prior art in terms of economic prospects with remarkable TRS production efficiency from renewable feedstock.

Keywords: Microcrystalline cellulose; –SO3H functionalized ionic liquid; Density functional theory; Total reducing sugar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:121:y:2018:i:c:p:590-596

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.01.079

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