Issue 13, 2024

Electrocatalytic conversion of biomass-derived furan compounds: mechanisms, catalysts and perspectives

Abstract

Renewable biomass, with its abundant resources, provides a viable solution to address the energy crisis and mitigate environmental pollution. Furan compounds, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural (FF), serve as versatile platform molecules derived from the degradation of lignocellulosic cellulose, offering a crucial pathway for the conversion of renewable biomass. The electrocatalytic conversion of furan compounds using renewable electricity represents an enticing approach for transforming them into value-added chemicals. However, the complex chemistry of furan compounds leads to low selectivity of the target product, and the lower current density and Faraday efficiency make it difficult to achieve molded applications. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of the mechanism and conditions of the reaction, enhance reaction activity and selectivity, and indicate the direction for industrial applications. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the recent advancements in the electrocatalytic of HMF and FF, focusing on mechanisms and pathways, catalysts, and factors affecting like electrolyte pH, potential, and substrate concentration. Furthermore, challenges and future application prospects are discussed. This review aims to equip researchers with a fundamental understanding of the electrochemical dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, and hydrolysis reactions involving furan compounds. Such insights are expected to accelerate the development of cost-effective electrochemical conversion processes for biomass derivatives and their scalability in large-scale applications.

Graphical abstract: Electrocatalytic conversion of biomass-derived furan compounds: mechanisms, catalysts and perspectives

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Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
23 Jan 2024
Accepted
26 Feb 2024
First published
27 Feb 2024
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 4723-4756

Electrocatalytic conversion of biomass-derived furan compounds: mechanisms, catalysts and perspectives

P. Zhu, M. Shi, Z. Shen, X. Liao and Y. Chen, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 4723 DOI: 10.1039/D4SC00546E

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