Catalytic Biomass Upgrading Exploiting Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs)

Abstract

The use of hydrogen at high-pressure is associated with major safety concerns, storage, and high cost. Therefore, the development of reductive chemical processes based on the use of low-pressure hydrogen is very attractive in view of an industrial-scale application. This perspective focuses on the most representative studies reported until 2021 dealing with the reductive manipulation processes of diverse biomass-based feedstock utilizing alternative liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). In this context, the research has been dedicated mainly to formic acid and small molecular alcohols, specifically isopropanol. The perspective illustrates the transformations of biobased platform molecules, such as levulinic acid, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, into valuable products, including biofuels. In addition, the lignin upgrading mediated by these H2sources is discussed.