METHODS FOR CELLULOSE HYDROLYSIS USING SULFONATED POLYAROMATIC CATALYSTS

The disclosure relates to a method for hydrolyzing cellulosic material using a sulfonated polyaromatic catalyst. A cellulosic material is combined with the sulfonated polyaromatic catalyst in water to at least partially hydrolyze the cellulosic material and to form a monosaccharide hydrolysis product, thereby forming a reaction mixture including (i) an aqueous phase with the monosaccharide hydrolysis product in solution therein, and (ii) a dispersed phase including the sulfonated polyaromatic catalyst as well as any non-hydrolyzed cellulosic material. The sulfonated polyaromatic catalyst includes a mixture of partially sulfonated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that is substantially insoluble in the aqueous phase, thus providing it with an affinity for the water-insoluble cellulosic substrate where it preferentially exhibits its catalytic hydrolytic activity. The monosaccharide hydrolysis product can be recovered from the aqueous phase of the reaction mixture.