Hydrolysis of Fruit Waste to Reduce Sugars Using Sulphonated Magnetic Carbonaceous Catalyst

Abstract

The sulphonated magnetic carbonaceous catalyst (Fe₃O₄@AC-SO₃H) was effectively synthesised by functionalising the sulphonic acid group (–SO₃H) on the surface of the core-shell structure of magnetic nanoparticle grafted activated carbon and analysed by SEM, XRD, and FT-IR. The As-prepared catalyst may aggressively hydrolyse biomass to sugar in a shorter reaction time. Hydrolysis factors such as catalyst dose, reaction temperature, and duration all had a significant impact on the hydrolysis of pomegranate peel waste. The catalyst could liberate 46% of TRS in 2 hours at 140°C from acid-pretreated pomegranate peel waste. This catalyst can be easily regenerated using a magnet and reused for up to three cycles with improved stability.