Mechanistic understanding of the catalytic hydrogenation of bio-derived aromatics

• Published in: Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC 2021-11, Vol.23 (23), p.9239-9253
• Main Author: Yu, Iris K. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Aromatic compounds; Binding; Biomass energy production; Biorefineries; Catalysts; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Furfural; Green chemistry; Hydrogenation; Renewable energy; Selectivity; Substrates; Sustainability
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/d1gc03037j

Biorefinery, the transformation of biomass to renewable energy and materials, is a prominent player in the sustainability agenda to achieve carbon neutrality in 30-40 years. In the reductive upgrading of bio-based aromatic compounds ( e.g. , furfural), disparity in the reported product profiles leads to a scientific question - what general principles govern the catalytic rate and selectivity towards certain paths? There are increasing pieces of evidence for metal-reactant interactions serving as the fundamental determinants of the reaction rate and product distribution. The binding strength and geometry of substrates depend on the coverage of the substrate itself as well as other surface species. Modifying metal electronic properties not only affects the state of the adsorbed organic substrate but also hydrogen binding as quantified by electrochemical characterization. This review addresses the issues above from the viewpoint of kinetics and thermodynamics, by aligning multi-disciplinary findings from catalyst evaluations, theoretical calculations, and electrochemical analyses, shedding light on the universal descriptors of catalytic hydrogenation. The pressing need for "zero carbon" calls for a transition from the petroleum refinery to biorefinery of renewable feedstocks. This review addresses the kinetic and thermodynamic understanding in the hydrogenative upgrading of bio-derived aromatics.