Biomass to Furanics: Renewable Routes to Chemicals and Fuels

Abstract

The quest to achieve a sustainable supply of both energy and chemicals is one of the great challenges of this century. 5-(Hydroxymethyl)­furfural (HMF), the long-known dehydration product of hexose carbohydrates, has become an important nexus for access to both liquid fuels and chemicals. One such biofuel is 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), which is a product of HMF hydrogenolysis and contains an energy density 40% greater than that of ethanol. In recent years, much work has been done to effect the chemical conversion of fructose, glucose, cellulose, and even lignocellulosic biomass into HMF in high yield. Here, we provide an overview of methods to access HMF from carbohydrates with the highest potential to reach an industrial scale, along with a discussion of unmet technological needs necessary for commercialization.

Sustainable Utilization of Biomass Refinery Wastes for Accessing Activated Carbons and Supercapacitor Electrode Materials

“…[1][2][3] Plant biomass, the global production of which is estimated to be 10 11 tons per year,i s considered as the most promising renewable source of carbon for the production of fuels, chemicals, and functional materials in the future. [4,5] Cellulose and various C 6 carbohydrates constitute approximately 75 %o fb iomass. [5] The high oxygen content, low solubility,a nd polymericn ature of cellulose disallow the straightforward use of biomass in the majority of industrial processes.M uch effort of academic and industrial research is currentlyf ocusedo nt he development of processes for effec-tive transformationo fc arbohydrates into substances of higher carbon content, suitable for processing with established technologies.…”

Porous Zr‐Bibenzyldiphosphonate Nanohybrid with Extra Hydroxy Species for Enhancive Upgrading of Biomass‐Based Levulinates

“…Over the past decades, extensive attention has been paid to utilize bio‐renewables as alternative feedstock for the production of petroleum‐based chemcials and liquid fuels . A variety of bioproducts (e. g., alcohols, organic acids and furanic compounds) can be synthesized from lignocellulose via different cascade reactions such as fermentation, hydrolysis, dehydration, oxidation, and hydrogenation .…”

Production of Furan Compounds from Cryptomeria japonica using Pyridinium Chloride under Various Conditions

“…For example, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and furfural ( Fig. 1) can be obtained by transformations of hexoses and pentoses in lignocellulosics via hydrolysis and dehydration (Van Putten et al 2013;Caes et al 2015). These furan compounds are used as building blocks for polymers, pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and fuels (Van Putten et al 2013;Caes et al 2015).…”

“…1) can be obtained by transformations of hexoses and pentoses in lignocellulosics via hydrolysis and dehydration (Van Putten et al 2013;Caes et al 2015). These furan compounds are used as building blocks for polymers, pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and fuels (Van Putten et al 2013;Caes et al 2015). 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid, which is obtained by oxidation of 5-HMF, and furfuryl alcohol, which is obtained by furfural reduction, are widely used as monomers of functional polymers (Zuo et al 2016).…”