Opportunities for zeolites in biomass upgrading—Lessons from the refining and petrochemical industry

• Zeolite-based catalysts show significant potential for biomass transformations.
• Wide variety of conversion of biomass-derived feedstocks can be achieved over molecular sieves.
• Deactivation, active sites accessibility and aqueous media are the main challenges to be overcome.

New technologies ensuring the production of valuable products from renewable raw materials would greatly benefit our society by satisfying the ever-growing needs while reducing environmentally harmful waste and emissions. The present paper reviews the possibilities of microporous and mesoporous materials as catalysts in conversion of biomass-derived raw materials. Proven industrial applications from the refining and petrochemical sector are used as the basis for discussing the potential of new renewable-raw-materials-based processes. The examples of different studies on the applicability of zeolites as catalysts in processes requiring splitting or formation of carbon–carbon bond, isomerization, deoxygenation (including dehydration), etc. are given. The perspectives of the application of zeolites for the valorization of biomass are evaluated and several challenges are generalized, aiming at a better understanding of the relationship between physical and chemical properties of microporous materials and their behavior in the transformation of biomass-derived feedstocks.

Application of wide range of zeolite catalysts to transformations of biomass-derived feedstocks.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (123 K)Download as PowerPoint slide