Effect of the textural modification of sulfonated hydrothermal carbon for esterification reaction

Abstract

Carbon materials prepared by hydrothermal carbonisation have gained a high interest recently because they are prepared from renewable resources, using mild conditions and it is a bottom up approach that enables a high level of control over morphology and composition. One of the main drawbacks for the direct application of hydrothermal carbon is its negligible surface area. Despite its apparent low surface area, we have demonstrated that the sulfonation of hydrothermal carbon produces an acid catalyst affording TOFs in esterification reactions higher than other heterogeneous acid catalyst. Here, in order to increase the porosity of hydrothermal carbon and study its effect in esterification reaction, we have followed two strategies. First, we have prepared mesoporous hydrothermal carbon from glucose using hypersaline conditions during the synthesis. Second, we have calcined hydrothermal carbon at different temperatures in inert atmosphere. The different hydrothermal carbon materials have been sulfonated, characterised and tested in esterification reactions.