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Green synthesis of sulfonated graphene oxide-like catalyst from corncob for conversion of hemicellulose into furfural

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Abstract

The development of an environmentally friendly synthesized biomass-derived catalyst for the conversion of hemicellulose to platform chemicals has attracted worthwhile attention. In this work, an acidic carbon-based catalyst (C-SGO) with a structure resembling sulfonated graphene oxide is synthesized from corncob-extracted cellulose by bleaching, alkalization, carbonization, and sulfonation processes. Characteristics of the as-synthesized C-SGO were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Raman spectrum of C-SGO spectroscopy indicated the existence of D and G bands at 1338.72 and 1593.41 cm−1, respectively. SEM images of C-SGO showed sheet-like structures with folds and wrinklier after the sulfonation process, confirming the structural similarity of the synthesized material to sulfonated graphene oxide sheets. The synthesized C-SGO catalysts were applied for the conversion of hemicellulose from corncob to furfural. The synergistic effect of C-SGO and the concentration of NaCl 0.2 mol/L in the furfural synthesis reaction achieved a yield of 40.03% at a temperature of 200 °C, time of 90 min, and 100 mg of the catalyst amount, showing the potential of using seawater or wastewater containing NaCl as a low-cost solvent. Moreover, the catalyst also demonstrated reusability after 5 cycles, showing that C-SGO can be used as a heterogeneous catalyst suitable for furfural synthesis.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the support of time and facilities from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), VNU-HCM for this study.

Funding

This research is funded by Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology — VNU-HCM, under grant number SVKSTN-2021-KTHH-18.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. VNU-HCM Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Processing (Key CEPP Lab), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Ninh Thi Tinh, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Do Gia Nghiem, Do Khanh Dan, Pham Tan Khang, Nguyen Minh Dat, Huynh Thi Tuong Vy, Le Minh Huong, Tat Minh Hoang, Mai Thanh Phong & Nguyen Huu Hieu

  2. Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Ninh Thi Tinh, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Do Gia Nghiem, Do Khanh Dan, Pham Tan Khang, Nguyen Minh Dat, Huynh Thi Tuong Vy, Le Minh Huong, Tat Minh Hoang, Mai Thanh Phong & Nguyen Huu Hieu

  3. Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Ninh Thi Tinh, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Do Gia Nghiem, Do Khanh Dan, Pham Tan Khang, Nguyen Minh Dat, Huynh Thi Tuong Vy, Le Minh Huong, Tat Minh Hoang, Mai Thanh Phong & Nguyen Huu Hieu

  4. Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry (HUFI), 140 Le Trong Tan Tay Thanh Ward Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Nguyen Thi Phuong

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  1. Ninh Thi Tinh
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Contributions

Nguyen Minh Dat, Ninh Thi Tinh, Do Gia Nghiem, and Do Khanh Dan, experimental, data curation, and formal analysis; Ninh Thi Tinh, Huynh Thi Tuong Vy, Do Gia Nghiem, Nguyen Thi Phuong, and Tat Minh Hoang, writing—original draft preparation; Ninh Thi Tinh, Do Gia Nghiem, Pham Tan Khang, Le Minh Huong, and Nguyen Minh Dat, writing—review and editing; Mai Thanh Phong and Nguyen Huu Hieu, conceptualization and methodology and supervision. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Tinh, N.T., Phuong, N.T., Nghiem, D.G. et al. Green synthesis of sulfonated graphene oxide-like catalyst from corncob for conversion of hemicellulose into furfural. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 14, 11011–11022 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03136-2

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