The Role of Electrochemistry in Future Dynamic Bio‐Refineries: A Focus on (Non‐)Kolbe Electrolysis

Abstract

AbstractThe vision of a circular economy with closed carbon dioxide cycles is inevitably connected to a change of raw materials. Non‐edible biomass is an attractive carbon source for chemical industry. Brought together with renewable energy, the electrocatalytic transformation of biomass‐based feedstocks enables to directly integrate renewable electrical energy into chemical value chains. Considering the major role of natural carboxylic acids, the well‐known Kolbe and non‐Kolbe electrolysis attract increasing interest as versatile tools to valorize renewable feedstocks providing access to both biofuels and bulk or fine chemicals. They allow via decarboxylation access either to the corresponding dimerization product or the terminal alkene. Here, the electrochemical valorization of biomass is discussed with special emphasis on the possible role of (non‐)Kolbe electrolysis in a future electrified biorefinery.