Amorphous carbon-based sulfonated catalysts were generated from four kinds of biomass (lignin, cellulose, wood meal and D-xylose) by hydrothermal carbonization at various temperatures (225, 245 and 265 uC) followed by sulfonation, with a yield of 36-56%. All of these catalysts showed aromatic structure, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, with a density of SO 3 H groups between 0.56 and 0.87 mmol g 21 . 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was produced from inulin in ionic liquids (ILs) in one step with the addition of carbon-based sulfonated catalysts, with a factual yield of 47-65% at 100 uC, 60 min. Moderate extension of reaction time (from 30 to 90 min) and increase of temperature (from 80 to 120 uC) promoted HMF production. Ethyl acetate was used as extractant, and about 39-55% of HMF can be recovered from ILs. One problem with these carbon-based sulfonated catalysts was that they would be partly deactivated in ILs for separate reuse, however, they can be easily regenerated by dilute sulfuric acid treatment. The carbon-based sulfonated catalysts exhibited good catalytic activity compared with traditional solid acid catalysts, and the carbon-based sulfonated catalyst/ILs reaction system showed high reusability. In consideration of the renewable as well as the high catalytic activity abilities, these biomass derived carbonbased sulfonated catalysts would be promising for industrial application.