Issue 14, 2024

Catalytic production of 1,4-pentanediol from lignocellulosic biomass

Abstract

Sustainable production of 1,4-pentanediol (1,4-PDO) from biomass is of great importance because 1,4-PDO is a monomer of degradable polyesters and plastics. This paper reviews the conversion of biomass-derived levulinic acid (LA) and furfural as well as their derivatives alkyl levulinate, γ-valerolactone (GVL) and furfuryl alcohol (FAL) into 1,4-PDO. MoOx or ReOx modified noble metal catalysts and non-noble metal catalysts with core–shell and alloy structures show a high 1,4-PDO yield and stability in LA hydrogenation under severe hydrothermal conditions. The conversion of furfural to 1,4-PDO involves the initial C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bond hydrogenation to form FAL, the consecutive acid-catalyzed ring-opening and the final hydrogenation. Therefore, it needs a bifunctional catalyst composed of metallic species and acid sites to improve the 1,4-PDO yield. Efforts are made here to highlight the employed catalysts, structure–performance relationship, reaction pathway and reaction mechanism in detail. The current challenges for large-scale applications of conversion of LA and furfural to 1,4-PDO have been proposed, including process development, catalyst cost, solvent and active site distribution. We believe that this review will provide new opportunities and expand the options for the production of 1,4-PDO via biorefining processes.

Graphical abstract: Catalytic production of 1,4-pentanediol from lignocellulosic biomass

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
12 Jan 2024
Accepted
07 Mar 2024
First published
11 Mar 2024

Green Chem., 2024,26, 8052-8067

Catalytic production of 1,4-pentanediol from lignocellulosic biomass

S. Zhu, Z. Lv, J. Wang, X. Jia, X. Li, M. Dong, J. Wang and W. Fan, Green Chem., 2024, 26, 8052 DOI: 10.1039/D4GC00180J

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