Synthesis of composite zeolites and their performance in hydrolysis of cellulose

In this paper, core-shell composite zeolites (HUSY@MFI) were prepared by hydrothermal method. The composite zeolites were characterized by XRD, SEM, N₂-adsorption, NH₃-TPD and Py-FTIR. The results indicated that HUSY@MFI has both HUSY and MFI structure. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) reflects a core-shell morphology of HUSY@MFI. The particles displayed an elliptical sphere structure with scale-like surface. The growth of MFI shell results in a decrease of external acid density and the total acid sites. When the HUSY@MFI was used as catalyst instead of HUSY in hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EmimCl), the glucose yield could be significantly improved from 30.9% to 41.3%.