Challenges and opportunities for zeolites in biomass upgrading: Impediments and future directions

• Published in: Catalysis today 2023-07, Vol.419, p.114159, Article 114159
• Main Authors: Bornes, Carlos, Santos-Vieira, Isabel C.M.S., Vieira, Ricardo, Mafra, Luis, Simões, Mário M.Q., Rocha, João
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetalization; Biomass; Dehydration; Glycerol; Lactic acid; Oxidation; Zeolites
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2023.114159

The urgency to reduce CO2 emissions and energy costs has driven the investment in solar and wind technologies. However, these sources of energy are intermittent and heavily influenced by weather conditions. To overcome this limitation, it is necessary to combine electricity production with a stable and low-carbon energy source, and biofuels have emerged as a promising option. Nonetheless, other challenges have arisen, including the oversupply of glycerol. To address this issue, one of the most sought-after solutions is to convert glycerol into value-added products, such as polymer precursors, solvents, and fuel additives. The production of these products involves catalytic reactions such as oxidation, reduction, reforming, dehydration, acetalization, and carbonylation. Here, we review the latest advances in the conversion of glycerol into value-added products using zeolite-based catalysts and discuss the remaining challenges in this field. [Display omitted] •Glycerol is convertible into chemicals used as polymer precursors, solvents, fuel additives, etc.•Oxidation of glycerol over Al-containing zeolites requires doping with metals such as Fe.•Zeolite’s acidity plays a pivotal role in the glycerol reactions.•Catalytic acetalization of glycerol over zeolites is selective towards solketal.•Zeolites glycerol conversion and selectivity to acrolein are better than over other types of catalysts.