Biomass to fuels and chemicals: A review of enabling processes and technologies

Abstract

The growing worldwide concern over the environmental impact of our heavy dependence on fossil fuels has provided impetus for biomass utilisation to produce fuels and chemicals. A cost-effective conversion technology stands as a challenge for biobased fuels and chemicals to be competitive with petroleum-derived products. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in the conversion technologies of biomass, which includes thermochemical and biochemical processes. With a plethora of conversion technologies available, the choice of suitable conversion technology depends on the biomass feedstock availability and the desired end-product. It is observed that present research is focused on the development of catalysts and optimisation of process parameters to improve the economics of conversion technologies. Efforts are also on towards utilisation of cheaper substrate, lignocellulosic biomass and CO 2 -sequestering algae. Though few technologies have reached the commercial stage, conversion technologies for lignocellulosic and marine biomass are still evolving. Further, much impetus is being given to process optimisation for deriving platform chemicals from biomass for value addition and sustainability of the biorefinery concept. Some key developments in these areas are presented in this review.

Pd Nanoparticle-Decorated Bi2MoO6 Nanoflakes with Surface Oxygen Vacancies for Selective Room-Temperature Furfural Hydrogenation and Benzyl Phenyl Ether Hydrogenolysis

“…Over the last several decades, research on the development of technologies for the effective conversion of biomass into fuels and valuable chemicals has become a prominent topic of study in an effort to replace rapidly diminishing and environmentally harming fossil fuels. , It may be feasible to lower the carbon footprint associated with the excessive use of fossil fuels by switching from expendable fossil fuel to renewable biomass as a feedstock, making feedstock production environmentally friendly. The global market for the production of platform chemicals from biomass is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6% through 2018–2025, and by 2050, it is anticipated to reach one-third by weight of the chemicals produced today. , As we know, the lignocellulose biomass is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.…”

Garlic (Allium sativum) peel extracts and their potential as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents for food applications: influence of pretreatment and extraction solvent

“…GP has gained attention in recent years as a potential source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities for food and medicinal purposes due to its composition rich in lignin and cellulose (Kallel & Ellouz Chaabouni, 2017; Kotenkova & Kupaeva, 2019; Chaudhary et al ., 2022; dos Santos et al ., 2022). Lignin transformation encompasses a variety of techniques and approaches, such as pyrolysis, hydrothermal treatment, and enzymatic degradation, which yield a diverse array of valuable chemicals, including phenolic compounds (Kleinert & Barth, 2008; Tsubaki et al ., 2010; Hu et al ., 2012; Rathore & Singh, 2022). In this study, the evaluation of two pretreatments of different natures (biological and thermal processing) applied to GP to facilitate the extraction of phenolic compounds, as well as the effect of different extraction solvents on the TPC, TFC, AC, and AA of GPE, was proposed.…”

Recent advances, perspectives and challenges on levulinic acid production from residual biomass

“…Valuing all biomass components and obtaining a diversified portfolio of bioproducts is a challenge that biorefineries can overcome. Thermochemical processes are simple but energy intensive, while biochemical ones offer better product yield selectivity but suffer from high costs 68 . Faced with these challenges, guaranteeing processes for obtaining sustainable and environmentally safer LA involves assessing and choosing the technologies offered.…”