Hydrolysis Catalysis of Miscanthus Xylan to Xylose Using Weak-Acid Surface Sites

• DOI: 10.1021/cs400939p
• Publication Date: 2013-12-04T19:47:36Z
• Authors: Po-Wen Chung; Alexandre Charmot; Olayinka A. Olatu...; Kathleen A. Durkin; Alexander Katz
• Keywords: Radius of gyration; Gel permeation chromatography; Depolymerization

Adsorption and hydrolysis of xylan polysaccharides extracted from Miscanthus biomass are demonstrated, using surface-functionalized MCN (mesoporous carbon nanoparticle) materials that comprise weak-acid sites, at a pH corresponding to extract. Extracted consist peak molecular weight 2008 g/mol according GPC (gel-permeation chromatography), approximately 15 xylose repeat units, and, calculated length 7 nm radius gyration 2.0 based on dynamics simulations. A highly active material for the adsorption depolymerization is hydrothermally treated sulfonated material, which consists 90% sites. In spite large polysaccharide size relative its 1.6 pore radius, this adsorbs up 76% strands extract solution, loading 29% MCN. Starting with 9.7% yield in extract, hydrolyzes xylose, achieves 74.1% yield, compared 24.1% background reaction acetate buffer, 150 °C 4 h. Catalytic comparisons other MCN-based highlight role confinement surface provide some correlation between activity phenolic OH acid-site density. However, lack directly proportional site density catalyzed rate signifies only fraction sites catalytically active, likely be present high local concentration surface, would consistent previously observed trends catalysis chemisorbed glucans inorganic-oxide surfaces.