Structural features of cotton gin trash derived carbon material as a catalyst for the dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Biomass-derived carbon catalysts have been extensively studied for the dehydration of sugars to platform chemical 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), which can be used produce valuable chemicals and fuels. However, only limited studies conducted determine their molecular structures how these influence conversion process. Here, we prepare a chlorosulfonated catalyst derived from cotton gin trash (CGT) at 400 °C fructose (HMF) in ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl). The highly efficient consisting 3 aromatic layers furanic, phenolic rings aliphatic–aromatic with –COOH, OH, -SO3-, -SO3H functional groups were found similar performance as commercial catalyst, Amberlyst-15. material was reused 5 times without loss catalytic activity. formation sugar intermediate, 3,4-dihydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-carbaldehyde may related –COOH OH forming hydrogen bonds fructose, adsorption onto graphitized sp2 internal regions where interactions defects occur.