Thermogravimetric analysis was successfully employed as a
methodology to determine the mass of unreacted cellulose after
a catalytic reaction. The method allows for an improved determination
of the catalytic conversion. The thermal decomposition
event related to cellulose (organic carbon) can be distinguished
from carbon-supported catalysts (inorganic carbon) which is used
to build an analytical plot correlating cellulose mass loss with cellulose
present in the reaction mixtures. The analytical procedure can
be used to quantify unreacted cellulose after a catalytic reaction
and consequently the catalyst conversion. Due to minimal sample
handling the TGA method is more selective and exhibits greater
accuracy when compared to the gravimetric method