Aquivion®–carbon composites via hydrothermal carbonization: amphiphilic catalysts for solvent-free biphasic acetalization

Abstract

One-pot hydrothermal carbonization of polysaccharides (i.e. guar gum or cellulose) with Aquivion® perfluorosulfonic superacid at 180 °C produced new amphiphilic Aquivion®–carbon composites. The materials stabilized dodecyl aldehyde/ethyleneglycol Pickering emulsions, and thus efficiently catalyzed the solvent-free biphasic acetalization reaction under moderate conditions with excellent reusability.