Cellulose conversion into renewable chemicals and fuels over supported metal catalysts

Abstract

Nowadays, the development of biomass as an alternative energy source has been explored for the production of energy, chemicals and transportation fuels. Cellulose is an abundant, low-cost and renewable energy source that can be transformed into solid, liquid and gas products by pyrolysis. Sustainable, low cost and efficient catalysts are needed for catalytic cellulose conversion by pyrolysis. Among heterogeneous catalysts, supported metal catalysts have been extensively studied which demonstrated distinct reactivity and/or selectivity in a variety of chemical reactions. This paper reviews and provides a summary of the cellulose conversion by supported metal catalysts into value added chemicals and fuels. Emphases will be put on the reaction mechanism and key factors that exert effect on the catalytic performance.