eng Science and Education Publishing Sustainable Energy 2014-05-05 2 3 102 107 10.12691/rse-2-3-4 RSE2014234 article Ananda S. Amarasekara asamarasekara@pvamu.edu 1 Bernard Wiredu 1 Department of Chemistry, Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas, USA Catalytic activities of eight sulfonic acid group functionalized ionic liquids in water were compared for the hydrolysis of Sigmacell cellulose (DP ~ 450) in the 150-180°C temperature range by measuring total reducing sugar (TRS) and glucose produced. The catalytic activity of acidic ionic liquids with different cation types decreases in the order imidazolium > pyridinium > triethanol ammonium cation. Among the sulfonic acid group functionalized imidazolium ionic liquids, the catalysts which contain a single imidazolium ion and a flexible linker between sulfonic acid group and the imidazolium ionic liquid core structure are the most active catalysts. http://pubs.sciepub.com/rse/2/3/4/rse-2-3-4.pdf cellulose hydrolysis ionic liquid catalyst structure-activity relationship