Study on Solid Acid Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Maltose and Related Polysaccharides

Abstract

Within a study on combined hydrolysis and oxidation of starch toward D-gluconic acid the solid acid catalyzed hydrolysis of maltose as model compound was investigated. Acid zeolites and ion-exchange resins in the H*-form as well as amorphous silica-aluminas were used as the catalysts. The optimal conditions found for maltose were applied in the hydrolysis of amylose and starch. It is shown that the catalysis by zeolites and alumino-silicates involves homogeneous as well as heterogeneous catalysis.