Synthesis of lignin-carbohydrate complex-based catalyst from Eragrostis tef straw and its catalytic performance in xylose dehydration to furfural.

A new catalyst was successfully prepared by functionalization of the lignin-carbohydrate complex structure in the Eragrostis tef straw via simultaneous carbonization and sulfonation. The physical and chemical properties of the surface of the synthesized catalyst were checked by FTIR and XRD. The FTIR results indicate the prepared catalyst exhibited functional groups such as -SOH, -COOH, and -OH. The synthesis conditions like the temperature and time of carbonization and sulfonation showed significant effect the amount of the strong acid doped into the carbonized lignin-carbohydrate matrix. The newly prepared catalyst was checked for dehydration of xylose to furfural and revealed of course that it has the potential. The maximum yield of furfural 62.4% was achieved and the catalyst showed excellent reusability for 5 runs without significant loss of catalystic activity. The use of catalysts prepared from Eragrostis tef straw is a green strategy for converting xylose to furfural, as these catalysts are solving the problems associated with the use of mineral acid catalysts.