Selective production of levoglucosenone by catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose mixed with magnetic solid acid

In this study, magnetic solid acid Fe3O4/C–SO3H600 was synthesized and applied in catalytic fast pyrolysis of cellulose for the selective production of levoglucosenone (LGO). The catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose could not only reduce the reaction-required temperature and promote the LGO production, but also could be reused for recycling in an economical and practical approach. Under the experimental conditions that the ratio of catalyst to cellulose was 1:1 and the pyrolysis temperature was 300 °C, the yield of LGO reached 20 wt%. This research also explored the mechanism of cellulosic pyrolysis to produce LGO, indicating that LGO could be produced via further dehydration of levoglucosan.