Biomass and Bioenergy

The concepts of sustainable development, bio-economy and circular economy are increasingly being applied to the synthesizing molecules of industrial interest. Among these molecules, furfural as a platform molecule is the subject of various research approaches to improve its synthesis and productivity and also to extend its transformation for the production of molecules of interest. Due to the current momentum in promoting green chemistry for sustainable development, chemists have recently established catalytic reactions based on alternative technologies such as continuous flow. The present study showed recent break through obtained in the production of furfural, hydroxymethylfuran, methylfuran, methyl levulinate and γ-valerolactone starting from lignocellulose in the presence of homogeneous catalysts and heterogeneous catalysts using either batch process or continuous flow process. Various reaction parameters in dependence of time such as temperature, catalyst and feedstock loadings as well as solvent types have been optimized. Conception, synthesis and physico-chemical properties will be detailed. Continuous flow transformation of biomass will pave the way to green chemistry applied to the production of biofuel.