Catalytic Processes for Biomass-Derived Platform Molecules Valorisation

Nowadays, biomass is an interesting raw material for chemical industry, and the valorisation of its derivatives becomes in a sustainable alternative against to the depletion of fossil sources necessary for the production of energy, fuels and chemicals. Different organic compounds, such as sugars, polyols, furanics, as well as several acids (i.e. levulinic acid, succinic acid, itaconic acid, 3-hydroxy-propionic acid, among others) can be obtained after a primary treatment of the lignocellulosic-type biomass. These bio-derived molecules can be used as "platform chemicals" for the synthesis of numerous chemical products (i.e. components and additives for fuels, solvents and paintings, new monomers for polymer industry, etc.). In this review, the possibilities of valorisation via novel catalytic processes of some of the most promising biomass(cellulose/hemicellulose)-derived intermediates and platform chemicals for obtaining both conventional and new high added-value chemicals for industry will be assessed, also including cascade-type (or "one-pot") catalytic processes recently developed.