Mild Hydrothermal Degradation of Cotton Cellulose by using a Mixed‐Metal‐Oxide ZnO–ZrO₂ Catalyst

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a process for the degradation of cotton cellulose in the presence of a mixed‐metal‐oxide ZnO–ZrO 2 catalyst under mild hydrothermal conditions (463 K, 1.4 MPa). The main products include glucose, fructose, furfural, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and water‐soluble oligosaccharides. The highest yield of HMF was 10.05 % at 473 K and the conversion ratio of cotton cellulose reached 81 % at 483 K. The desorption peak in ammonia‐temperature programmed desorption (NH 3 ‐TPD) performed on the ZnO–ZrO 2 catalyst was near the 463–473 K range for the degradation of cotton cellulose. The tetragonal phase structure of the ZnO–ZrO 2 catalyst played an important role in lowering the temperature and pressure for the hydrothermal degradation of cotton cellulose.