Hydrolysis Of Cellulose And Cellulose Model D-Cellobiose Using Amino-Sulfonic Acid Hydrochlorides As Catalysts

Author

Jesse C. Nwankwo, Prairie View A&M University

Date of Award

8-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Degree Discipline

Chemistry

Abstract

The accelerated industrialization has boosted the demand for fossil fuels, increasing prices and greenhouse gas emissions, which has led to a quest for cleaner energy sources such as biofuels. Cellulose, a common biopolymer, is promising for renewable energy but is not hydrolysis-resistant. In this research, firstly, nine amino-sulfonic acids, orthanilic, aminomethanesulfonic, pyridine-3-sulfonic, 2-aminoethanesulfonic, 3-amino-1-propanesulfonic, and 3-morpholinopropanesulfonic acids, sulfanilic, and metanilic were investigated as model catalysts for cellulose hydrolysis. D-cellobiose, a more simplified model of cellulose, was similarly hydrolyzed using metanilic and sulfanilic acids and benchmarked against sulfuric acid. At 85 - 115°C, sulfanilic acid produced 76% glucose yield compared to 59% for sulfuric acid after 1.5 hours of reaction, and it proved better. The results confirm amino-sulfonic acids as efficient, green alternatives for the conventional mineral acids in biomass conversion.

Keywords: D-cellobiose, hydrolysis, amino-sulfonic acids, sulfanilic acid, metanilic acid, sulfuric acid, glucose yield, conversion of biomass

Committee Chair/Advisor

Ananda Amarasekara

Committee Member

Neelgund Gururaj

Committee Member

Harshica Fernando

Publisher

Prairie View A&M University

Rights

Date of Digitization

10/21/2025

Contributing Institution

J. B . Coleman Library

City of Publication

Prairie View

MIME Type

Application/PDF

Recommended Citation

Nwankwo, J. (2025). Hydrolysis Of Cellulose And Cellulose Model D-Cellobiose Using Amino-Sulfonic Acid Hydrochlorides As Catalysts. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/pvamu-theses/1624