One-step synthesis of a novel carbon-based strong acid catalyst through hydrothermal carbonization

Abstract  

A novel carbon-based strong acid catalyst was synthesized through the one-step hydrothermal carbonization of furaldehyde and p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) in aqueous solution at 180 °C for only 4 h. The novel carbon-based solid acid possessed high acidity, and the catalytic activities were investigated by esterification and oxathioketalization. The results showed that the novel catalyst demonstrated much greater activity than the traditional solid acids and was comparable to sulfuric acid. The one-step method provides an efficient procedure for the synthesis of various functionalized carbons by one-step hydrothermal carbonization.