Heterogeneous Bimetallic Catalysts for Upgrading Biomass-Derived Furans

Abstract

Transformation of furans derived from biomass is a sustainable methodology to produce a wide range of chemicals for various applications. In this direction, involvement of catalysts and catalytic processes for biomass transformation is of critical importance to achieve enhanced transformation, controlled product selectivity and less-energy intensive process. This review focuses on the recent progress in the field of catalytic transformation of biomass derived furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to various value-added chemicals using bimetallic catalysts. This review provides a detailed overview on various factors controlling the performance of the bimetallic catalysts for various reactions (e. g., hydrogenation, oxidation, hydrodeoxygenation) involved during the transformation of these furans. In particular, importance of intermetallic synergistic interactions of the bimetallic heterogeneous catalysts in biomass transformation is highlighted. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim