High‐quality liquid fuels are obtained from non‐edible carbohydrates by energy‐efficient processes. 2‐Methylfuran, produced by hydrogenation of furfural, is converted into 6‐alkyl undecanes in a catalytic solvent‐free process (see scheme with 6‐butylundecane). A diesel fuel is produced with an excellent motor cetane number (71) and pour point (−90 °C) and with global process conversions and selectivities close to 90 %.

Cellulose has been directly converted into environmentally friendly alkyl glycoside surfactants in a one pot transformation. By working in ionic liquid media with Amberlyst 15Dry (A15) as catalyst and coupling the rate of cellulose hydrolysis and the rate of glycosidation of the monosaccharides formed with C(4) to C(8) alcohols, it was possible to obtain 82% mass yield of octyl-alpha,beta-glucoside plus octyl-alpha,beta-xyloside.