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Synergistic Effect between Defect Sites and Functional Groups on the Hydrolysis of Cellulose over Activated Carbon
Author(s) -
Foo Guo Shiou,
Sievers Carsten
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201402928
Subject(s) - chemistry , hydrolysis , cellulose , adsorption , glycosidic bond , van der waals force , catalysis , functional group , carbon fibers , activated carbon , organic chemistry , molecule , materials science , polymer , enzyme , composite number , composite material
The chemical oxidation of activated carbon by H 2 O 2 and H 2 SO 4 is investigated, structural and chemical modifications are characterized, and the materials are used as catalysts for the hydrolysis of cellulose. Treatment with H 2 O 2 enlarges the pore size and imparts functional groups such as phenols, lactones, and carboxylic acids. H 2 SO 4 treatment targets the edges of carbon sheets primarily, and this effect is more pronounced with a higher temperature. Adsorption isotherms demonstrate that the adsorption of oligomers on functionalized carbon is dominated by van der Waals forces. The materials treated chemically are active for the hydrolysis of cellulose despite the relative weakness of most of their acid sites. It is proposed that a synergistic effect between defect sites and functional groups enhances the activity by inducing a conformational change in the glucan chains if they are adsorbed at defect sites. This activates the glycosidic bonds for hydrolysis by in‐plane functional groups.