Hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose over carbon catalysts sulfonated via a plasma process in dilute acids

Herein, we reported a novel plasma-sulfonation process for carbon materials in dilute sulfuric acid within a few tens of minutes. The total acidic and -SO₃H densities of the sulfonated carbon were 4.4 mmol g^-1 and 2.2 mmol g^-1, respectively. The glucose selectivity during cellulose hydrolysis using a sulfonated carbon catalyst was 83.9% and retained 98% of its performance after recycling.