Understanding Biomass Valorization through Electrocatalysis: Transformation of Glycerol and Furan Derivatives

Electrochemical conversion of underutilized biomass provides a green approach for their valorization into high-value-added products, which constitutes a mild, safe, and green procedure. Moreover, the use of an electrochemical pathway in contrast to the classical routes (thermo or biochemical) offers several advantages in terms of product selectivity, safety, catalyst stability, and reusability. The highly variable number of tunable conditions in an electrochemical reaction offers a broad space for improvement until the optimum ones are achieved, including substrates, curent and voltage, electrodes, electrolytes, and cell set-up. The present Perspective aims to provide an informative overview into the biomass and waste valorization of furan derivatives and byproducts of biofuel refineries (glycerol) by reviewing the essential aspects of this field. We cover the fundamentals of electrochemical organic transformations, emphasizing the different parameters to consider during these procedures. We highlight the potential of electrochemical methods for biomass valorization and suggest new directions for more sustainable research.