Imprinted biomimetic catalysts for cellulose hydrolysis

1. A biomimetic catalyst, said catalyst comprising:

a polymeric silica matrix, wherein preparation of the matrix comprises reacting at least one tetraorthosilicate with at least one silane in the presence of an imprinting molecule to form said polymeric silica matrix impregnated with said imprinting molecule, and removing said imprinting molecule from said impregnated polymeric silica matrix via washing or burning;

wherein at least 1 mol percent of said at least one silane is an acid functionalized silane;

wherein said imprinting molecule is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellobiose, linear oligomeric β(1-4) linked glucose chains longer than cellobiose but shorter than cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydropropylcellulose, linear and branched α-linked glucose oligomer and polymers, sucrose, lactose, trehalose, fructans, pectins, glycosaminoglycans, agar, gum Arabic, karageenan, glucose, and D-glucose 6-phosphate;

at least one active site imprinted into said matrix, wherein said active site binds and hydrolyzes at least one glucose substrate to glucose,

wherein said glucose substrate is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellobiose, linear oligomeric β(1-4) linked glucose chains longer than cellobiose but shorter than cellulose, and linear and branched α-linked glucose oligomers and polymers, and

wherein at least one said acid functionalized silane is incorporated in said polymeric silica matrix and is present in said active site.

2. The biomimetic catalyst of claim 1 , wherein said at least one acidic functionality is selected from the group consisting of a phenol, a carboxylic acid, and a sulfonic acid.

3. A method of preparing the biomimetic catalyst of claim 1 , said method comprising:

reacting at least one tetraorthosilicate with at least one silane in the presence of an imprinting molecule to form a polymeric silica matrix impregnated with said imprinting molecule, wherein at least 1 mol percent of said at least one silane is an acid functionalized silane;

wherein said imprinting molecule is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellobiose, linear oligomeric β(1-4) linked glucose chains longer than cellobiose but shorter than cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydropropylcellulose, linear and branched α-linked glucose oligomer and polymers, sucrose, lactose, trehalose, fructans, pectins, glycosaminoglycans, agar, gum Arabic, karageenan, glucose, and D-glucose 6-phosphate;

isolating said impregnated polymeric silica matrix; and

removing said imprinting molecule from said impregnated polymeric silica matrix via washing or burning to form a silica matrix imprinted with the structure of said imprinting molecule,

wherein said matrix comprises at least one active site,

wherein said active site comprises at least one said acid functionalized silane that is incorporated in said polymeric silica matrix and binds and hydrolyzes at least one glucose substrate to glucose,

wherein said glucose substrate is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellobiose, linear oligomeric β(1-4) linked glucose chains longer than cellobiose but shorter than cellulose, and linear and branched α-linked glucose oligomers and polymers.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said at least one tetraorthosilicate is selected from the group consisting of Formulas I, II, III and IV:

wherein:

R 1 is, independently at each occurrence, C 1 -C 6 alkyl or phenyl; and,

G 1 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl,

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein R 1 is CH 2 CH 3 at each occurrence.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein said at least one silane is a compound selected from the group consisting of Formulas V, VI, and VII:

wherein:

R 1 is, independently at each occurrence, C 1 -C 6 alkyl or phenyl;

R 2 is, independently at each occurrence,

or C 1 -C 6 alkyl optionally substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of R 4 and

R 3 is C 1 -C 6 alkyl optionally substituted with a substituent selected from the group consisting of R 4 and

R 4 is SH, NH 2 , OH, CO 2 H, or SO 3 H; and

R 5 is H, NH 2 , OH, SO 2 Cl, CO 2 H, or SO 3 H;

provided that when R 4 is SH or R 5 is SO 2 Cl, the thiol or chlorosulfonyl groups are oxidized to SO 3 H after said removing of said imprinting molecule.

7. A method of producing glucose, said method comprising:

dissolving a glucose substrate in a solvent;

contacting said glucose substrate in said solvent with at least one biomimetic catalyst of claim 1 to hydrolyze said glucose substrate to glucose, said biomimetic catalyst comprising:

a polymeric silica matrix, wherein preparation of said matrix comprises reacting at least one tetraorthosilicate with at least one silane in the presence of an imprinting molecule to form said polymeric silica matrix impregnated with said imprinting molecule, and removing said imprinting molecule from said impregnated polymeric silica matrix via washing or burning;

wherein at least 1 mol percent of said at least one silane is an acid functionalized silane;

wherein said imprinting molecule is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellobiose, linear oligomeric β(1-4) linked glucose chains longer than cellobiose but shorter than cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydropropylcellulose, linear and branched α-linked glucose oligomer and polymers, sucrose, lactose, trehalose, fructans, pectins, glycosaminoglycans, agar, gum Arabic, karageenan, glucose, and D-glucose 6-phosphate;

at least one active site imprinted into said matrix, wherein said active site binds and hydrolyzes at least one glucose substrate to glucose,

wherein said glucose substrate is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellobiose, linear oligomeric β(1-4) linked glucose chains longer than cellobiose but shorter than cellulose, and linear and branched α-linked glucose oligomers and polymers, and

wherein at least one said acid functionalized silane is incorporated in said polymeric silica matrix and is present in said active site.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said solvent is an ionic liquid or molten salt.

9. A method of producing ethanol, said method comprising:

dissolving a glucose substrate in a solvent; wherein the glucose substrate is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellobiose, linear oligomeric β(1-4) linked glucose chains longer than cellobiose but shorter than cellulose, and linear and branched α-linked glucose oligomers and polymers;

contacting said glucose substrate in said solvent with at least one biomimetic catalyst of claim 1 to completely or partially hydrolyze said glucose substrate to glucose, said biomimetic catalyst comprising:

a polymeric silica matrix, wherein preparation of said matrix comprises reacting at least one tetraorthosilicate with at least one silane in the presence of an imprinting molecule to form said polymeric silica matrix impregnated with said imprinting molecule, and removing said imprinting molecule from said impregnated polymeric silica matrix via washing or burning;

wherein at least 1 mol percent of said at least one silane is an acid functionalized silane;

wherein said imprinting molecule is at least one selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellobiose, linear oligomeric β(1-4) linked glucose chains longer than cellobiose but shorter than cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydropropylcellulose, linear and branched α-linked glucose oligomer and polymers, sucrose, lactose, trehalose, fructans, pectins, glycosaminoglycans, agar, gum Arabic, karageenan, glucose, and D-glucose 6-phosphate;

at least one active site imprinted into said matrix, wherein said active site binds and hydrolyzes said glucose substrate to glucose, and wherein at least one said acid functionalized silane is incorporated in said polymeric silica matrix and is present in said active site;

isolating said glucose; and

converting said glucose to ethanol.