Catalytic Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass into Fuels and Value-Added Chemicals

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass has positioned itself as a most dominant candidate to cater growing fuel and chemical demands. Moreover, the production and application of biomass-derived chemicals and fuels could help to reduce greenhouse gases and pollutant emissions that damage the environment. In this context, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF), levulinic acid (LA), and ethyl levulinate (EL) have emerged as platform-building block molecules to produce a wide-ranging commodity chemicals and fuels. Interestingly, the production of these chemicals from bio-renewable resources is a challenging task among the optimal operating temperatures, reaction times, reaction mechanisms, heating modes, and other factors. In general, depolymerization, isomerization, dehydration, and rehydration are the major reactions, which essentially require a suitable acid catalyst containing both Brønsted and Lewis acidic sites. An optimum ratio of Brønsted and Lewis acidic sites is the dominant factor in determining the desired reactant conversion and products selectivity. Therefore, the motive of this chapter is to enhance the knowledge about the role of catalysts in production of value-added chemicals from various bio-renewable feedstocks.