TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 /SO 3 H(IL): Unique Usage of Ionic Liquid-Based Sulfonic Acid as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Visible-Light-Driven Preparation of 5-HMF from Cellulose and Glucose

Chemicals, of analytical grade purity, were purchased from Merck Co. (Darmstadt, Germany) and were used as received. FT-IR spectra were secured deploying a Perkin-Elmer 781 spectrophotometers using pressed KBr discs. NP dispersion and morphology and NP dispersion were realized employing scanning electron microscopy (FESEM, Cam scan MV2300). The chemical structural integrity of the obtained nano catalyst was affirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra were obtained by utilizing a Philips powder diffractometer type PW 1373, equipped with a graphite monochromator crystal. The X-ray wavelength deployed was 1.54 Å and the diffraction patterns were secured in the 2h intervals (10-80) using a scanning rate of 1°/min. Ultrasonic generation was accomplished using an ultrasonic bath, Bandelin electronic at a frequency of 35 KHz. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed using STA 1500 Rheometric Scientific (England) for the asobtained catalyst and was carried out under constant N2 gas flow from 25 to 1000 °C at a temperature gradient of 10 °C min-1 . The size and shape of the TiO2/g-C3N4/SO3H(IL) nanocomposite were determined using Philips EM208 and JEOL JEM-3010 transmission electron microscope (TEM). Elemental analyses were completed employing a PerkinElmer elemental analyzer for C, H, N, O determination. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopic (ICP-AES) analysis was performed deploying OPTIMA 7300DV equipment.