Catalytic Hydrogenation Reactions of Lignocellulosic Biomass-derived Compounds as a Strategy to Obtain Value-added Products

Biomass feedstocks are promising alternatives to fossil fuels that are associated to global warming.In this context, thinking about sustainable development, is necessary new technologies and raw materials to produce biofuels and chemicals.Lignocellulosic biomasses have a great natural disponibility and represent an important carbon source.The high oxygen amount is a current problem and part of it may be remove through efficient strategies.Considering this, the present review focuses on hydrogenation reactions from heterogeneous catalysis to furfural and 5-hidroxymethylfurfural upgrading.Both noble and non-noble metals such as Cu, Ti, Hf, Zr, Rh, Mo, Ru, Sn, Ni, Co, Fe, Pd, Au, Ir, Pt, are actives and promote selectivity, high conversion rates and yields of these reactions.These metals are generally deposited on supports including aluminosilicates, zeolites, alumina, carbon, metals oxides and porous silicate that increase the metal disponibility and improve the catalytic activities.Recent studies demonstrated that some organic molecules, as secondary alcohols, are alternatives to molecular hydrogen and generate hydrogen in situ via MPV mechanism.These routes are important because represent an alternative inexpensive, efficient and safety to reduce functional groups required in biomass upgrading.