Catalytic chemical processes for biomass conversion: Prospects for future biorefineries

Abstract

Biomass is a renewable and abundant feedstock that is poised to become a future alternative to petroleum as the understanding and technology surrounding catalytic biomass conversion and biorefineries progresses. A relevant research avenue explored in recent years deals with biomass deconstruction into simpler compounds (platform chemicals) by overcoming its recalcitrant and complex structure and subsequently converting these building blocks into value-added chemicals, fuels and materials in a similar way to that of current refineries. This contribution is aimed at providing a short overview of biomass processing chemistry by illustrating some relevant examples of catalytic strategies for biorefineries.Article note: A collection of invited papers based on presentations at the 2 nd Brazilian Symposium on Biorefineries (II SNBr), Brasília, Brazil, 24-26 September 2013.

Reductive splitting of hemicellulose with stable ruthenium-loaded USY zeolites

“…Renewable biomass, like carbohydrates, is a sustainable alternative feedstock for the production of highly oxygenated chemical compounds. [1][2][3] Lignocellulose, containing cellulose (40-50 wt%) and hemicellulose (25-40 wt%) next to the aromatic polymer lignin (10-25 wt%), is the most abundant biomass feedstock. Fractionation, usually involving solventbased extractions in the presence of an acid or a base, isolates the sugar part, which may be converted into valuable chemicals and fuels with bio-and chemocatalytic processes.…”

“…Fractionation, usually involving solventbased extractions in the presence of an acid or a base, isolates the sugar part, which may be converted into valuable chemicals and fuels with bio-and chemocatalytic processes. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Integrated concepts, in which metal catalysis is applied during lignocellulose solvolysis, such as in the 'lignin-first' approach, are also emerging. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Hereby, raw lignocellulose is processed in a polar organic solvent at elevated temperatures in the presence of a metal catalyst into a stable lignin oil and a solid pulp.…”

Agricultural Biomass to Adipic Acid–An Industrially Important Chemical

“…As an abundant, source of carbon, biomass can be considered as a promising renewable alternative to fossil fuels that can be transformed into a variety of value-added chemicals, solvents, and high-energy-density fuels by various chemical and biological means by the destruction of the structure (Luque, 2014). The US Department of Energy has reported 12 molecules that can be converted to HMF, levulinic acid (Chodimella, 2020), adipic acid, furfural, furfuryl alcohol, etc.…”

Synthesis of High-Density Aviation Fuel with Cyclopentanol

“…For fulfilling the need of sustainable development and environmental protection, the catalytic conversion of inedible, CO 2 -neutral and renewable biomass to high quality fuels − and useful chemicals − has become a hot research topic. Lignocellulose is the major component of agriculture and forest wastes.…”