Abstract
The concomitant hydrolysis and dehydration of biomass-derived cellulose and hemicellulose to furfural (FUR) and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) under acid catalysis allows a dramatic reduction in the oxygen content of the parent sugar molecules with a 100% carbon economy. However, most applications of FUR or HMF necessitate synthetic modifications. Catalytic hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis have been recognized as efficient strategies for the selective deoxygenation and energy densification of biomass-derived furfurals generating water as the sole byproduct. Efficient and eco-friendly catalysts have been developed for the selective hydrogenation of furfurals affording renewable furanic compounds such as 2-methylfuran, 2,5-dimethylfuran and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran with potential applications as biofuel, solvent and chemical feedstock. Hydrogen gas or hydrogen donor molecules, required for the above processes, can also be renewably obtained from biomass using catalytic processes, enabling a circular economy. In this review, the recent developments in the energy densification of furfurals to furanic compounds of commercial significance are elaborated, emphasizing the role of catalyst and the reaction parameters employed. Critical discussion on sourcing hydrogen gas required for the processes, using hydrogen donor solvents, catalyst design and the potential markets of furanic intermediates have been made. Critical evaluations of the accomplishments and challenges in this field are also provided.
Highlights
Adopting biomass-derived fuels and chemicals would help relieve the economic and environmental distresses triggered by the excessive use of petrofuels and petrochemicals [1].the suitable integration of renewable, carbon-neutral biomass in the chemical industry would be an indispensable step toward their long-anticipated sustainability [2,3].selecting the biomass feedstock is critical to not compete with the animal and human food supply chain [4]
Pd/Zr-metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with benzenedicarboxylic acid as linker (UiO-66) with an average Pd particle size of 2–3 nm prepared by the impregnation method achieved 100% tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFAL) selectivity under mild reaction conditions compared with Pd/SiO2 and Pd/γ-Al2 O3 catalysts
Low selectivity toward BHMF was observed when the reaction was performed in both acidic and basic media, and the results suggested that a neutral aqueous medium was apt for the above-mentioned conversion
Summary
Adopting biomass-derived fuels and chemicals would help relieve the economic and environmental distresses triggered by the excessive use of petrofuels and petrochemicals [1]. Process decreases the oxygen content of glucose by 50 mol% without cleaving C-C bonds Both FUR and HMF can access various synthetic value addition pathways with several or producing toxic byproducts. FUR and HMF can access various synthetic value addition pathways with several established and emerging all the oxygen atoms from a mole of glucose by combining catalytic hydrogenation and commercial markets for their derivatives [11]. Inexpensive, efficientand and cirrecycle ergy densification could a self-reliant andonsustainable chemical technology catalysts that allow both the dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reaction to take place on cular economy Converting sugars such as glucose into molecular hydrogen by electrocatheir surface are required. The review attempts to summarize the research accomplishments to date, recognize the challenges and proposes research directions to decipher them
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