SYNTHESIS OF HYDROXYL GROUP ENRICHED CARBON NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR APPLICATION AS HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSTS FOR CELLULOSE HYDROLYSIS.

Abstract

In this work, hydroxyl-group enrich carbon nanoparticles were synthesized from beetroot powder via hydrothermal method. For functionalization purposes different precursors were utilized. Nanoparticles with uniform size and morphology were formed when polyethylene glycol was added as a source of hydroxyl groups. Nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, ATR-FT-IR, XPS and Fl-spectroscopy. The obtained nanoparticles significantly enhance the hydrolysis of cellulose reaction to produce glucose. It was revealed that synthesized nanoparticles were able to decompose cellulose in the presence of water, without the addition of toxic and aggressive reagents, such as sulfuric acid. Quantitative analysis using the Phenol-Sulfuric method demonstrated that glucose concentration in aqueous solution reached 40%. This work has future potential for large-scale production of bioethanol.