Recent progress in the development of solid catalysts for biomass conversion into high value-added chemicals

Area of Science:

• Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry
• Biomass Conversion Technologies
• Materials Science

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels drives research into biomass utilization.
• Biomass offers a renewable feedstock for producing biofuels, chemicals, and bioplastics.
• Developing efficient catalytic systems is crucial for effective biomass conversion.

Approach:

• This review categorizes solid catalysts into four main groups: micro/mesoporous materials, metal oxides, supported metal catalysts, and sulfonated polymers.
• It examines substrate and reagent activation mechanisms for each catalyst group.
• The review summarizes recent advancements in chemocatalytic processes for producing key bio-based plastic monomers.

Key Points:

• Solid catalysts are essential for converting biomass into high-value products.
• Catalyst classification is based on structure and substrate activation properties.
• Focus is placed on catalysts enabling the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, lactic acid, glyceraldehyde, 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, and furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid.

Conclusions:

• Solid catalysts offer diverse strategies for biomass valorization.
• Understanding reaction mechanisms is key to optimizing biomass conversion processes.
• This work provides a comprehensive overview of catalysts for producing bio-based plastic monomers and intermediates.