“…Zeolites have been extensively used across a wide variety of industrial applications, ranging from chemical synthesis, adsorbents, and molecular sieves. − In the context of catalytic conversions, aluminosilicate zeolites such as ZSM-5 have been commonly used as solid acid catalysts for a wide range of chemistries. , Among the various chemistries, biomass upgrading over zeolites has received significant attention as a sustainable and alternative route to chemical production. − Biomass catalytic upgrading strategies typically involve dehydration, decarboxylation, and aldol condensation. − However, relative to petrochemical conversion strategies, the inherently higher water content of biomass poses a challenge, where its presence in the pores of a zeolite can significantly alter catalytic chemistries and kinetics. ,− The impact of water on a zeolite-catalyzed chemistry has led to numerous investigations into the origin of the effect of water on the catalytic process that leads to a change in reaction rates and selectivities. ,− Major effects of water on the catalytic reactions include adsorption on active sites, solvation of reactants, and transition states . Understanding the catalytic consequence of solvent environments like the aqueous phase is therefore central to designing solid acids for biomass catalytic upgrading strategies.…”