Biomass to Molecules: Closing the Carbon Loop through Integrated Thermochemical Conversion

The urgent need to decarbonize the chemical sector and reduce dependence on fossil-derived carbon has renewed interest in biomass as a sustainable feedstock for chemical production. In this context, biomass has emerged as a versatile feedstock for producing both liquid and gaseous fuels, such as syngas, biogas, and compressed biogas (CBG). Among the available routes of biomass valorization into value-added chemicals and fuels, gasification offers a versatile technique to convert biomass and waste-derived feedstocks into syngas, which is a key intermediate for fuels and chemicals. In addition, biomass-derived biogas provides an alternative carbon source for syngas production proceeds through dry reforming of methane (DRM), thereby enabling the utilization of both CH4 and CO2 streams. This perspective offers a comprehensive overview of biomass utilization techniques, associated challenges related to their usage, and strategies to overcome them. Furthermore, particular attention is given to the fundamental chemistry and operating parameters on gasification performance, along with their thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. Moreover, special attention is placed on the competing reactions occurring during gasification, which affect the quality of syngas. In addition, materials design strategies for DRM are critically illustrated for the production of syngas from biomass-derived biogas, highlighting DRM as a central pathway for enhancing carbon utilization and tuning the H2/CO ratio. In situ and operando characterizations, along with DFT and AI/ML studies, can further provide valuable insights into the reaction and deactivation mechanisms of DRM. Such efforts are essential for closing the carbon loop and enabling a sustainable transition toward circular carbon economies.