Hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose is the most critical step in the bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials to fuels and chemicals. To mimic cellulases in cellulose hydrolysis, a series of polymeric solid acid catalysts were synthesized using polystyrene and polyacrylic acid as backbone with halides as cellulose-binding groups and sulfonic acid as cellulose-hydrolytic groups. It was found that these synthesized catalysts could hydrolyze microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) to glucose at a yield of approximately 50% in 5 h at 120 �C. Similar glucose yield was achieved when applied to dissolved pulp under the same conditions. When applied to real biomass agave leaf, only 12% glucose yield was achieved in 20 h at 120 �C. It was also found that the quantity of the binding domain was critical for a satisfactory catalytic performance. It seems that multiple binding domains were better than single one.

Rational design of cellulase-mimetic polymeric acid catalysts for saccharification of lignocelluloses

245th National Meeting (2013)

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