Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • The review emphasizes catalytic conversion of carbohydrates using Brønsted and Lewis acids, targeting platform chemicals like 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), lactic acid, and furfural, with yields often exceeding 70% under optimized conditions, enabling cost-competitive bio-based production. • • Hydrolysis, isomerization, and dehydration are core reactions; for instance, glucose-to-fructose isomerization achieves equilibrium conversion of ~50% at 100°C with Lewis acid catalysts, a critical step for HMF synthesis. • • Subsequent derivatization of platform compounds yields bio-fuels and battery materials; for example, HMF derivatives like 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) have energy densities comparable to gasoline (33 MJ/L), making them viable fuel additives. • • The review identifies challenges in catalyst stability and selectivity, particularly in aqueous-phase reforming (APR) of polyols, where Pt-based catalysts show deactivation due to sintering, but bimetallic Pt-Re systems maintain >80% hydrogen selectivity over 100 hours on stream.
Abstract
Carbohydrates, derived from abundant biomass resources, hold great promise for conversion into fine platform chemicals and fuels, which is crucial for sustainable development. The processes for carbohydrate conversion are predominantly driven by catalysis, with active components such as Brønsted acids and Lewis acids. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the catalytic conversion of various carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides) into high-value-added compounds. It elaborates on the specific pathways and mechanisms involved in reactions like hydrolysis, isomerization, and dehydration for target molecules such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, lactic acid, and furfural. Furthermore, the subsequent derivatization of these platform compounds and their application prospects in energy-related fields, including bio-fuels and batteries, are discussed. Finally, the current challenges in research are summarized, and future directions for the development of low-cost and high-performance catalytic systems are outlined.
1. Introduction
The global energy transition is hindered by the intermittency and storage issues of renewable sources like solar and wind, while fossil fuel depletion and carbon taxes intensify the need for sustainable alternatives. Biomass, particularly carbohydrates, offers a carbon-neutral feedstock that can be catalytically converted into both high-value chemicals and clean fuels. However, existing commercial routes for biomass conversion often rely on energy-intensive processes or produce low yields, limiting economic viability.
This review addresses the bottleneck by systematically analyzing catalytic pathways for carbohydrate conversion, focusing on the roles of Brønsted and Lewis acids in key reactions. It provides a critical assessment of process conditions, catalyst performance, and product yields, offering a roadmap for developing low-cost, high-performance catalytic systems that can compete with petrochemical routes.
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LUO Yang, LING Wenmeng, WANG Chenguang (2026). Catalytic Conversion of Carbohydrates: Opportunities and Challenges en Route to Fuels and Chemicals. Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60651-2
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main catalytic mechanisms for converting monosaccharides like glucose into platform chemicals, and what yields can be expected?
Glucose undergoes isomerization to fructose via Lewis acid catalysts (e.g., Sn-Beta), achieving equilibrium conversion of ~50% at 100°C. Subsequent dehydration of fructose to HMF using Brønsted acids yields up to 70-80% under biphasic conditions. These yields are industrially relevant, though catalyst deactivation remains a challenge.
How does the catalytic conversion of carbohydrates compare economically with fossil-based routes for producing fuels like DMF?
DMF derived from HMF has an energy density of ~33 MJ/L, comparable to gasoline. However, current production costs are higher due to expensive catalysts and separation steps. Advances in catalyst stability and process integration could reduce costs, but large-scale economic parity is not yet achieved.
APR of polyols like glycerol over Pt-based catalysts suffers from catalyst sintering and deactivation. Bimetallic Pt-Re catalysts show improved stability, maintaining >80% hydrogen selectivity for over 100 hours. However, reactor design and continuous operation remain bottlenecks for industrial deployment.
What is the role of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites in the selective conversion of polysaccharides like cellulose?
Cellulose hydrolysis requires Brønsted acids to break glycosidic bonds, while Lewis acids facilitate isomerization of glucose to fructose. Bifunctional catalysts with balanced acid sites can achieve high yields of HMF (up to 60%) from cellulose in one-pot processes, but require careful optimization to avoid side reactions.
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