Biomass-Derived Carbon Materials in Heterogeneous Catalysis: A Step towards Sustainable Future

Abstract

Biomass-derived carbons are emerging materials with a wide range of catalytic properties, such as large surface area and porosity, which make them ideal candidates to be used as heterogeneous catalysts and catalytic supports. Their unique physical and chemical properties, such as their tunable surface, chemical inertness, and hydrophobicity, along with being environmentally friendly and cost effective, give them an edge over other catalysts. The biomass-derived carbon materials are compatible with a wide range of reactions including organic transformations, electrocatalytic reactions, and photocatalytic reactions. This review discusses the uses of materials produced from biomass in the realm of heterogeneous catalysis, highlighting the different types of carbon materials derived from biomass that are potential catalysts, and the importance and unique properties of heterogeneous catalysts with different preparation methods are summarized. Furthermore, this review article presents the relevant work carried out in recent years where unique biomass-derived materials are used as heterogeneous catalysts and their contribution to the field of catalysis. The challenges and potential prospects of heterogeneous catalysis are also discussed.

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) and biomass-derived carbon-based electroactive composite materials for supercapacitor applications

“…57 The carbon compounds prepared from biomass can be used in various reactions, including electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and organic transformations. [58][59][60] Biomass-derived carbon materials are synthesized by processes like pyrolysis and thermal carbonization. Pyrolysis is a dry-carbonization reaction that takes place at high temperatures (between 300 °C and 900 °C) in an inert atmosphere or low-oxygen environment.…”

Diverse Morphologies of Nb2O5 Nanomaterials: A Comparative Study for the Growth Optimization of Elongated Spiky Nb2O5 and Carbon Nanosphere Composite

“…In addition, low-cost synthesis, accessibility, environmental friendliness, and the presence of heteroatoms, N, B, and P, in the natural bio-mass materials contribute to complementary active sites in CNS. [42,43] The as-synthesized CNS from dried oil palm leaves comprising quasispherical morphologies with an average size of ≈50-80 nm (Figure S15, Supporting Information) are added to make composites of elongated spiky seaurchin Nb 2 O 5 and CNS (suNb 2 O 5 -CNS). The CNS possesses a graphitic core and various defects (see Figure S16, Supporting Information for FT-IR and Raman spectra), and few surface oxygen functional groups may act as anchoring points for the Nb 2 O 5 to make a composite of suNb 2 O 5 -CNS.…”

N-Doped porous carbons obtained from chitosan and spent coffee as electrocatalysts with tuneable oxygen reduction reaction selectivity for H2O2 generation

“…26 Carbon materials can be produced from organic waste products, thereby providing a sustainable source of catalyst material. 27 As the production of municipal waste increases, 28 the topic of waste recycling and valorisation is crucial for enabling sustainable development. 29 For instance, the recycling of waste from corn stover, 30 oats husks, 31 tire rubber, 32 eggshells, 33 sugarcane processing residue, 34 bamboo 35 and coffee waste 36–38 have been considered as possible pathways to produce various carbon materials.…”