Biomass Processing via Electrochemical Means

Abstract

Traditional chemical transformations such as thermochemical and chemocatalytic conversions, fermentation, gasification, and pyrolysis are used for biomass processing. Alternative sustainable and green technologies such as electrochemical, photo-electrochemical, and bio-electrochemical conversions are currently being developed by the scientific community. Electrolysis offers many advantages for conversion of bio-based chemicals over alternative conversion routes.The development of economically feasible methods for producing industrially relevant chemicals with high purity and selectivity from sugars is gaining considerable attention in recent years. The electrochemical reduction of levulinic acid to valeric acid proceeds at low pH and high overpotential, whereas at low pH and low overpotential, γ- valerolactone is the main product. The electrochemical conversion of glycerol is primarily investigated for energy storage purposes, with foreseen applications in fuel cells, and for the production of hydrogen or formic acid. An integrated electrochemical process for lignin depolymerization with in situ downstream processing is often applied in order to prevent overoxidation.