Science and Education Publishing Sustainable Energy 2 3 2014 05 05 Sulfonic Acid Group Functionalized Ionic Liquid Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Cellulose in Water: Structure Activity Relationships 102 107 EN Ananda S. Amarasekara Department of Chemistry, Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas, USA Bernard Wiredu RSE2014234 10.12691/rse-2-3-4 2013 12 30 2014 05 05 2014 05 05 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.