Furfural – a versatile, biomass-derived platform chemical for the production of renewable chemicals

Abstract

For years, fossil fuels have been the predominant feedstock for the production of chemicals, resulting in their overexploitation and widespread environmental degradation, prompting a search for alternative feedstocks. In this context, lignocellulosic biomass has emerged as a green and inexhaustible carbon reservoir for the production of chemicals. Among the infinitely large number of chemicals that can be obtained from biomass is furfural, a commodity chemical with an annual production volume of nearly 652 kilotons. It has been recognised as one of the most valuable biomass-derived chemicals due to its high reactivity which allows it to serve as a platform compound for the synthesis of value-added chemicals. This review seeks to discuss both the processes for furfural production as well as its conversion to the most relevant chemicals, with greater focus on the latter part. Emphasis has been laid on providing a deep insight into the reaction conditions, systems and mechanisms involved in the transformation processes. Additionally, an effort has been made to highlight major challenges in the routes, suggest remedial solutions to them and discuss avenues for future work.