TITLE:
Synthesis of Propyl-Sulfonic Acid-Functionalized Nanoparticles as Catalysts for Cellobiose Hydrolysis
AUTHORS:
L. Peña, K. L. Hohn, J. Li, X. S. Sun, D. Wang
KEYWORDS:
Surface, Nanoparticles, Cellobiose, Hydrolysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology,
Vol.5 No.4,
October
28,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Functionalization of silica surfaces using organo-silanes is highly
sensitive to reaction conditions. Silica-coated nanoparticles were
functionalized with propyl-sulfonic acid groups (PS) under different synthesis
conditions including, various solvents (Ethanol, methanol, acetonitrile, and
toluene), water content in the reaction media (0% to 50%),
3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane concentration (MPTMS) (0.5% to 10%), and
reaction time (6 to 16 h). Size of the PS-nanoparticles was determined by TEM
and varied from 3.5 to 20.3 nm with sulfur load. Elemental analysis revealed
sulfur contents from 0.8% to 22%. FTIR analysis showed increased C-H band
intensities with increasing sulfur content of PS-nanoparticles. Although
PS-nanoparticles with sulfur loads under 3% did not improve the hydrolysis of
cellobiose, PS acid-functionalized nanoparticles with about 6% S achieved 96.0%
cellobiose conversion. The control experiment, without catalyst, converted
32.8% of the initial cellobiose. PS-nanoparticles with (6% - 8% S) were
obtained using (0.5%) silane concentration and 15 - 16 h reaction time in
ethanol.