Issue 12, 2010

Towards the conversion of carbohydrate biomass feedstocks to biofuels viahydroxylmethylfurfural

Abstract

This review appraises the chemical conversion processes recently reported for the production of hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF), a key biorefining intermediate, from carbohydrate biomass feedstocks. Catalytic sites or groups required for the efficient and selective conversion of hexose substrates to HMF are examined. The principle of concerted catalysis was used to rationalise the dehydration of fructose and glucose to HMF in non-aqueous media. A survey of reported reaction routes to diesel-range biofuel intermediates from HMF or furfural is presented and self-condensation reaction routes for linking two or more HMF and furfural units together toward obtaining kerosene and diesel-range biofuel intermediates are highlighted. The reaction routes include: benzoin condensation, condensation of furfuryl alcohols, hetero Diels–Alder reaction and ketonisation reaction. These reaction routes are yet to be exploited despite their potential for obtaining kerosene and diesel-range biofuel intermediates exclusively from furfural or hydroxylmethylfurfural.

Graphical abstract: Towards the conversion of carbohydrate biomass feedstocks to biofuels via hydroxylmethylfurfural

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
08 Dec 2009
Accepted
03 Jul 2010
First published
03 Sep 2010

Energy Environ. Sci., 2010,3, 1833-1850

Towards the conversion of carbohydrate biomass feedstocks to biofuels via hydroxylmethylfurfural

O. O. James, S. Maity, L. A. Usman, K. O. Ajanaku, O. O. Ajani, T. O. Siyanbola, S. Sahu and R. Chaubey, Energy Environ. Sci., 2010, 3, 1833 DOI: 10.1039/B925869H

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