Progress and Outlook of Solar-Powered Biomass for Biorefineries: A Minireview

Abstract

Photocatalysis is an innovative approach for producing sustainable chemicals from renewable biomass feedstock under benign conditions. Active radical intermediates are key components for the photochemical conversion of biomass upgradation; however, controlling these reactions is a challenging task, especially in complex biomass systems. In this review, we highlight current advances in the photochemical transformation of lignocellulose biomass to valuable feedstock chemicals, including the conversion of sugars and furanic derivatives. We also describe various strategies for generating key radical intermediates for selective biomass valorization. Despite ongoing progress in the field, many issues remain to be solved, such as the development of efficient light-harvesting photocatalysts, biomass valorization from raw feedstocks, selective biomass conversion, and scaling-up biomass valorization for industrial use. In this review, a perspective on progress, constraints, and future prospects in photocatalytic biomass valorization to fuels and value-added chemicals under mild reaction conditions is thoroughly discussed. Moreover, this review also provides a perspective on recent developments in the field and encourages further research to develop more efficient photocatalysts for biomass and biorefinery applications.