title: Recent progress in the development of solid catalysts for biomass conversion into high value-added chemicals.
abstract: In recent decades, the substitution of non-renewable fossil resources by renewable biomass as a sustainable feedstock has been extensively investigated for the manufacture of high value-added products such as biofuels, commodity chemicals, and new bio-based materials such as bioplastics. Numerous solid catalyst systems for the effective conversion of biomass feedstocks into value-added chemicals and fuels have been developed. Solid catalysts are classified into four main groups with respect to their structures and substrate activation properties: (a) micro- and mesoporous materials, (b) metal oxides, (c) supported metal catalysts, and (d) sulfonated polymers. This review article focuses on the activation of substrates and/or reagents on the basis of groups (a)-(d), and the corresponding reaction mechanisms. In addition, recent progress in chemocatalytic processes for the production of five industrially important products (5-hydroxymethylfurfural, lactic acid, glyceraldehyde, 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, and furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid) as bio-based plastic monomers and their intermediates is comprehensively summarized.
authors.affiliation: Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan; Frontier Research Center, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program (ALCA), 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Michikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan; JST, Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamata
keywords: biomass; heterogeneous catalyst; metal hydroxide; metal oxide; solid catalyst; supported nanoparticle; zeolite