Effect of neighboring carboxylic acid groups in sulfocarboxylic acid catalyzed hydrolysis of cellulose and corn stover

Sulfoacetic and sulfosuccinic acids with -SO 3 H and -CO 2 H groups were tested as homogeneous catalysts for the cellulose and corn stover hydrolysis in studies to develop a cellulase enzyme mimicking catalyst. The catalytic activities of dilute aqueous solutions of sulfoacetic and sulfosuccinic acids were compared with sulfuric and acetic acid mixtures with equivalent -SO 3 H and -CO 2 H concentrations by analysis of total reducing sugar (TRS) and glucose yields produced in a series of reactions carried out in water at 110–200 °C. Sulfoacetic and sulfosuccinic acid catalyst mediums produced TRS and glucose yields comparable to equivalent sulfuric and acetic acid mixtures. However, the highest TRS percent yields were achieved at 13 and 8 °C lower temperatures with sulfoacetic and sulfosuccinic acid catalysis for cellulose hydrolysis, in comparison to equivalent sulfuric and acetic acid mixtures. The glucose yields also showed 12 and 8 °C lower temperatures in sulfoacetic and sulfosuccinic acids respectively. Similar trends were observed for corn stover as well. This beneficial reduction in reaction temperatures were explained as a result of binding sulfocarboxylic acid catalysts to polysaccharide through dipolar interactions between catalysts CO 2 H and polysaccharide OH groups, decreasing the activation energy of the reaction. • sulfocarboxylic acid catalyzed hydrolysis of cellulose and corn stover was studied. • sulfocarboxylic acids produced higher reducing sugar yields at lower temperatures. • sulfocarboxylic acids produced higher glucose yields at lower temperatures. • low reaction temperatures may be due to CO 2 H - polysaccharide OH interactions.