(Chemo)biocatalytic Upgrading of Biobased Furanic Platforms to Chemicals, Fuels, and Materials: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Biobased furans, such as furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, are recognized as the top-value platform chemicals in the valorization of biomass to chemicals, fuels, and materials. Biocatalysis has emerged as a promising technique in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries because of exquisite selectivity, mild reaction conditions, environmental friendliness, etc. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the recent advances in (chemo)­biocatalytic conversion of biobased furans, based on the reaction types including oxidation, reduction, C–C and C–N bonds formation, esterification, and amidation. Particularly, the biocatalysts and their catalytic mechanisms/pathways are critically discussed to allow the rational design and construction of efficient enzymes/multienzyme systems/chemobiocatalytic systems. Besides, various biocatalyst engineering and reaction engineering strategies are highlighted to intensify the processes. Future research directions are proposed to expand the chemical space of furans as well as to improve the commercial acceptance of biocatalytic processes.

Hierarchically ordered porous carbon with atomically dispersed cobalt for oxidative esterification of furfural

“…5 The utilization of furfural as a starting material via hydrogenation, oxidation, reductive amination, etc., can synthesize a variety of valuable chemicals. [5][6][7][8] In particular, the oxidative esterification of furfural can produce alkyl furoates, which are widely used as flavour and fragrance components in the chemical industry. Precious metal-based catalysts show high activity for the oxidative esterification of furfural, while the scarcity of precious metals is unfavourable for industrial applications.…”

Combining Electro-, Photo-, and Biocatalysis for One-Pot Selective Conversion of Furfural into Value-Added C4 Chemicals

“…Furfural has a heteroaromatic ring and an aldehyde functional group, which endow the chemical with high chemical reactivity and plasticity. This bio-based molecule can be converted into various chemicals, fuels, and materials by chemo-, bio-, and integrated catalysis. ,,, Many C4 chemicals such as maleic acid (MA), fumaric acid (FA), succinic acid (SA), d / l -malic acid ( d / l -MalA), and l -aspartic acid ( l -Asp) are important feedstocks in food, chemical, and polymer industries. Presently, MA is commercially produced from maleic anhydride (MAN) obtained via the oxidation of fossil-based chemicals such as benzene and butane over vanadium-based catalysts .…”

Whole‐cell Mediated Carboxylation of 2‐Furoic Acid Towards the Production of Renewable Platform Chemicals and Biomaterials

“…[6,13] HMF has been used to produce a wide variety of valuable biochemicals, such as levulinic acid and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). [14,15] The latter has gained great industrial interest since it is a promising bio-based alternative for replacing terephthalic acid (TPA) that is used as a building block in PET. Additionally, the production of terpene-, and other biomass-based diols, such as 1-(1'hydroxyethyl)-3-(2''-hydroxyethyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclobutane (HHDC) could replace petroleum-based diols such as ethylene glycol (EG) [16] with rigidified structures.…”