Issue 13, 2020

Recent catalytic routes for the preparation and the upgrading of biomass derived furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Abstract

Furans represent one of the most important classes of intermediates in the conversion of non-edible lignocellulosic biomass into bio-based chemicals and fuels. At present, bio-furan derivatives are generally obtained from cellulose and hemicellulose fractions of biomass via the acid-catalyzed dehydration of their relative C6–C5 sugars and then converted into a wide range of products. Furfural (FUR) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are surely the most used furan-based feedstocks since their chemical structure allows the preparation of various high-value-added chemicals. Among several well-established catalytic approaches, hydrogenation and oxygenation processes have been efficiently adopted for upgrading furans; however, harsh reaction conditions are generally required. In this review, we aim to discuss the conversion of biomass derived FUR and HMF through unconventional (transfer hydrogenation, photocatalytic and electrocatalytic) catalytic processes promoted by heterogeneous catalytic systems. The reaction conditions adopted, the chemical nature and the physico-chemical properties of the most employed heterogeneous systems in enhancing the catalytic activity and in driving the selectivity to desired products are presented and compared. At the same time, the latest results in the production of FUR and HMF through novel environmental friendly processes starting from lignocellulose as well as from wastes and by-products obtained in the processing of biomass are also overviewed.

Graphical abstract: Recent catalytic routes for the preparation and the upgrading of biomass derived furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
17 1 2020
First published
26 5 2020

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2020,49, 4273-4306

Recent catalytic routes for the preparation and the upgrading of biomass derived furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

C. Xu, E. Paone, D. Rodríguez-Padrón, R. Luque and F. Mauriello, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2020, 49, 4273 DOI: 10.1039/D0CS00041H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements