Synergistic effect of modified activated carbon and ionic liquid in the conversion of microcrystalline cellulose to...

This study highlights cellulose conversion for the production of 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural using synergistic effect of modified activated carbon and ionic liquid under moderate reaction conditions. Modified Activated carbon after acid treatment (ACS, ACP, ACH) were used to examine their catalytic activity on hydrolysis of cellulose in [Bmim]Cl medium. Changes in physical-chemical properties were characterized using XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, FT-IR and BET surface area analyser techniques. Modified activated carbon is found competent in enhancing cellulose conversion to Total Reducing Sugars and 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural. Further, the effect of six metal ions i.e Cr⁺³, Fe⁺³, Cu⁺², Zn⁺², K⁺ and Al⁺³ impregnated on sulfuric acid treated activated carbon (ACS) was explored. The catalytic performance improves with the impregnation of metals in the decreasing order: Cr⁺³> Fe⁺³> Cu⁺²> Zn⁺²> Al⁺³> K⁺. These modified catalysts with ionic liquid as solvent are found promising to generate eco-friendly system and cost effective cellulose conversion to value added products.