Recent Advances in the Manufacturing of Furfurylamine Through Biological and Chemobiological Ways

Catalytic upgrading of biomass is of paramount importance for the sustainable production of bio-based chemicals and biofuels. The direct use of polysaccharides, such as xylan and glucan, as starting materials is also possible in the preparation of biofurans. As one valuable biofuran, furfurylamine is recognized as a versatile intermediate, it is extensively used in manufacturing perfumes, resins, fibers, additives, and medicines. This review explores a sustainable approach to furfurylamine production that can be obtained entirely from agricultural and forestry wastes, including corncob, corn stalk, oat, and wheat bran. The procedure entails the hydrolysis of hemicellulose in biomass to liberate pentoses, succeeded by the dehydration of pentoses to generate furfural, which is then transformed into furfurylamine through biological amination. Key parameters such as catalyst selection, reaction conditions, and process optimization were investigated to enhance yield and selectivity. The results demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing furfurylamine from hemicellulose-rich biomass, with significant advantages in terms of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and reduced environmental impact compared to conventional methods. A life cycle assessment (LCA) and economic analysis further highlight the potential of this biomass-based route as a viable alternative to petrochemical processes. This review summarizes the recent advances, challenges and prospects of furfurylamine production from biomass, which provides a reference to the growing field of green chemistry by valorizing agricultural waste and providing a scalable, eco-friendly pathway for furfurylamine production via biological and chemobiological approach.