Conversion of hemicellulose from corncob to furfural and photodegradation of methylene blue using sulfonated graphitic carbon nitride as catalyst

In this study, a solid acid catalyst, sulfonated graphitic carbon nitride (SGCN), was synthesized through the sulfonation of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) using sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) at varying concentrations from 1 M to 5 M. The impact of the sulfonation process on the catalytic performance of SGCN was systematically investigated across two key applications: the conversion of hemicellulose derived from corncobs to furfural and the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). Comprehensive structural and physicochemical characterizations were conducted using advanced analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The findings revealed that SGCN treated with 5 M H₂SO₄ exhibited the highest catalytic efficiency in furfural production, achieving a conversion rate of 55.73% at 190°C after 120 minutes. In contrast, the catalyst sulfonated with 2 M H₂SO₄ demonstrated the most effective photocatalytic activity, achieving a 98.17% degradation rate of MB within 180 minutes under an initial MB concentration of 10 ppm using 30 mg of catalyst. These results underscore the potential of SGCN as a versatile catalyst for both biomass valorization and environmental remediation, contributing to the advancement of sustainable catalytic processes.