1 To prepare acid functionalized hydrothermal carbon catalysts from selected carbon materials (i.e. sugars, pretreated/fractionated lignin-based hydrocarbon) under optimized hydrothermal carbonization conditions.
2 To characterize the prepared functionalized catalysts by determining the surface area and porosity, surface chemistry, and thermal resistance characteristics, and etc.
3 To evaluate the catalytic activities over two main processes: 1) transesterification of triglycerides and esterification of fatty acids for biodiesel production 2) lignocellulosic biomass conversion via hydrolysis/dehydration for productions of surgars, furan derivatives and other fine chemicals (i.e. organic acids).
4 To determine the optimal conditions for the above reactions catalyzed by the prepared catalysts and determine the kinetic parameters necessary for up-scaling of the process.
