Biphasic reaction systems for lignocellulosic biomass revalorisation

Abstract

In the last decades, integrated biorefineries are acquiring importance since they allow the integral valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass by the obtaining of multiple products. However, the high number of steps of these biorefineries could reduce their economic sustainability and also could worse their environmental profile. In this sense, biphasic reaction systems could be a solution since it permits the production and isolation of added-value compounds in a single step. Furthermore, carrying reactions in biphasic systems also presents some advantages compared with performing them in monophasic systems, as they can be thermodynamically controlled and side reactions are avoided. Thus, this short review briefly presents the different biphasic reaction systems proposed in the last two years for the valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass. • Removing the formed furans from an aqueous media avoid their degradation. • The solvents used in biphasic reaction systems could influence the obtained products. • Deep eutectic solvents permit using biphasic reaction systems with milder conditions. • The biphasic reaction systems allow the fractionation of biomass in a single step.