Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots: A Review on the Preparation of γ-Valerolactone from Lignocellulose and Its Application in the Conversion of Lignocellulose

Rui Xu; Kun Liu; Haishun Du; Huayu Liu; Xuefei Cao; Xiyang Zhao; Guanzheng Qu; Xiaoyun Li; Bin Li; Chuanling Si

doi:10.1002/cssc.202002008

Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots: A Review on the Preparation of γ-Valerolactone from Lignocellulose and Its Application in the Conversion of Lignocellulose

ChemSusChem. 2020 Dec 17;13(24):6461-6476. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202002008. Epub 2020 Oct 5.

Authors

Rui Xu^{1

2

3}, Kun Liu¹, Haishun Du⁴, Huayu Liu¹, Xuefei Cao⁵, Xiyang Zhao², Guanzheng Qu², Xiaoyun Li¹, Bin Li³, Chuanling Si^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No. 9 at 13 Avenue, TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, P. R. China.
² State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, P. R. China.
³ CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 189 Songling Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao, 266101, P. R. China.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Rolls Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA.
⁵ Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, No.35 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China.

PMID: 32961026
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202002008

Abstract

γ-Valerolactone (GVL), derived from renewable lignocellulosic biomass, has been considered as a cost-competitive and green platform chemical. With the increasingly prominent environmental problems, a deep understanding of the preparation and transformation of GVL is highly needed. Based on the latest progress made with GVL, preparation and applications of GVL are summarized and discussed in this Review. In particular, the state-of-the-art in catalytic production of GVL is described based on the use of noble-metal and non-noble-metal catalysts. The application of GVL for the valorization of lignocellulose would improve the yield of target products such as sugar monomers and furfural. Thus, GVL can be produced from lignocellulose and simultaneously it can also be used for the valorization of lignocellulose, just as in the sustainable and renewable cycle, "the falling leaves returns to their roots". This Review is expected to provide valuable reference and new proposal for the further development and better utilization of GVL.

Keywords: green solvent; heterogeneous catalysis; lignocellulose; production; valerolactone.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

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