Abstract
In the face of growing oil demand the use of
renewable feedstocks for the potential to supply
transportation fuels, electricity, chemicals and
materials is increasingly attractive. This review
covers novel technologies and pathways to
produce liquid fuels and chemical intermediates
in an efficient and cost-effective way. Several
commercial and pilot scale projects by companies
including Anellotech, USA; Johnson Matthey,
UK; GFBiochemicals, Italy; Quaker Oats, USA;
Changchun Dacheng Group, China; Avantium, The
Netherlands; BASF, Germany and Rennovia, USA
are highlighted. The review focuses on the use
of non-food competing biomass, namely cellulose
and hemicellulose biomass, and the use of precious
metals to effect the key reaction steps: hydrolysis,
dehydration, hydrodeoxygenation, hydrogenation
and oxidation. The value added products achieved
include fine chemicals and functional materials...