Production of glucose by hydrolysis of cellulose at 423 K in the presence of activated hydrotalcite nanoparticles

Hydrotalcite nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation of aqueous Mg(NO3)2·6H2O and Al(NO3)3·9H2O in the presence of urea and subsequent microwave-hydrothermal treatment. The nanoparticles were activated with saturated aqueous Ca(OH)2, and used to hydrolyze cellulose. A maximum hydrolysis yield of 47.4% with high glucose selectivity (85.8%) was achieved at 423 K. The nanocatalyst was stable and leached little as confirmed by ICP, XRD, and neutral effluent aqueous solution after reactions. It can be concluded that hydrotalcite nanoparticles activated with Ca(OH)2 were a highly active, selective and stable catalyst for hydrolysis.