산성, 중성, 염기성의 감마알루미나에 (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (3-MPTMS)를 알루미나 기공 내에 도입하고 30 wt% 과산화수소수를 이용하여 황산기가 결합된 감마알루미나를 합성하였다. 1 M HCl용액을 이용하여 3-MPTMS의 도입을 좀 더 용이하게 하였다. 합성된 촉매는 자일로즈 탈수화 반응을 통한 푸르푸랄 생성반응에 적용하여 촉매 특성을 분석하였다. 모든 촉매 반응에서 우수한 자일로즈 전환률을 보였고, 황산기가 도입된 촉매가 푸르푸랄의 선택도를 높이는 결과를 보였다.
All types of γ-Al₂O₃ such as acidic, neutral and basic forms were chemically modified with (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (3-MPTMS) and oxidized by 30 wt% H₂O₂ solution. As a result, sulfonic acid modified γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were obtained. Their formation was achieved more easily by treating 1M HCl solution. Their catalytic performance was tested by dehydration reaction of D-xylose to furfural. The sulfonic acid modified γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts showed high conversion (>90%) of Dxylose, and the selectivity to furfural was increased with the amount of sulfonic acid anchored on the catalyst.