Processed Lignin as a Byproduct of the Generation of 5-(Chloromethyl)furfural from Biomass: A Promising New Mesoporous Material

Conversion of furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinate in the presence of mesoporous aluminosilicate catalyst

The one-pot acid-catalyzed the conversion of furfuryl alcohol (FA) to ethyl levulinate (EL) was investigated in the presence of mesoporous aluminosilicate (TUD-1) with a high surface area (up to 579 m2 g−1) and well-interconnected mesospheres synthesized via a solvothermal process and characterized using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, 27Al-NMR, and N2 sorption isotherm. The resulting solid acid catalyst was tested for the alcoholysis of FA with ethanol, affording 87.8% EL yield under the optimal reaction conditions of 120°C and 4 h. Moreover, the catalyst showed a good reusability with less loss of activity after a simple solvent washing and calcination procedure.

Expanding the biomass derived chemical space

The derivatization and covalent modification of biomass derived platform chemicals expand the biomass derived chemical spaces allowing for the preparation of new bioactive molecules and materials.

Biorefinery aims at the conversion of biomass and renewable feedstocks into fuels and platform chemicals, in analogy to conventional oil refinery. In the past years, the scientific community has defined a number of primary building blocks that can be obtained by direct biomass decomposition. However, the large potential of this “renewable chemical space” to contribute to the generation of value added bio-active compounds and materials still remains unexplored. In general, biomass derived building blocks feature a diverse range of chemical functionalities. In order to be integrated into value-added compounds, they require additional functionalization and/or covalent modification thereby generating secondary building blocks. The latter can be thus regarded as functional components of bio-active molecules or materials and represent an expansion of the renewable chemical space. This perspective highlights the most recent developments and opportunities for the synthesis of secondary biomass derived building blocks and their application to the preparation of value added products.