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Keywords Bioenergy · Biomass-derived value-added chemicals · Levulinic acid ·
Solid acid catalysis · Hierarchical zeolites · Levulinic esters
1 Biomass-Derived Scaffolds
The design and efficient synthesis of versatile molecules marks as a leading research
front in today’s time. The reaction products—the prime focus—have shared the
importance equivocally with the method of production and the side products generated in the process. The “method” of production has imbibed in it an important
attribute, viz., the source. Wherein terminologies like environmental degradation
and climate change have caught the eye of the world, all associated sectors need to
adapt and evolve urgently. The sources mentioned here need to be environmentally
compatible at the first place. Naturally available sources come to the mind in a go
and upon proper research and enlightenment have taken the frontline of modern
research.
Deriving viable chemicals from biologically alive things or part thereof is one
such subclass to this horizon of research. The “biomass” enriched with molecular
dexterity can be scientifically exploited for the better good—extracting or synthetically converting to numerous derivatives [1].
It has been established till now that this source-class has advantages in versatile
domains, and at this point, it becomes important to gist out a few of the n-numbered
benefits it withholds.
• Environmentally Benign—This point is listed out the first and therefore the primal importance. The source comes from the environment itself and hence should
be environmentally aligned and friendly.
• Biological Compatibility—Biomass is compatible to organic matter and also is
the biomass-derived product.
• Noncarcinogenic—Most of the bio-derived scaffolds as well as the side products
involved in their production process are noncarcinogenic, enhancing their
usability.
However, forming an unbiased reference certifies biomass with a few barriers, a
low content of energy, discrete availability, seasonality, high content of moisture,
and collection costs [1, 2]. In addition, available biomass is highly scarce. As an
alternative raw material, on the other hand, biomass would be a preferable resource
as chemical manufacturing needs far lower volumes of biomass to fulfill the
demand [2–4].
In the current scenario, research toward the conversion of biomass having rich
lignocellulose content to produce fuels, chemicals, and energy due to the rapidly
increasing global energy consumption and environmental concerns has garnered
considerable interest [5–7]. Meeting energy demands in the future will require alternatives and adequate substitution to the prevailing technologies based on fossil fuels
with renewable and sustainable carbon-neutral technologies utilizing
K. C. Maheria et al.
Keywords Bioenergy · Biomass-derived value-added chemicals · Levulinic acid ·
Solid acid catalysis · Hierarchical zeolites · Levulinic esters
1 Biomass-Derived Scaffolds
The design and efficient synthesis of versatile molecules marks as a leading research
front in today’s time. The reaction products—the prime focus—have shared the
importance equivocally with the method of production and the side products generated in the process. The “method” of production has imbibed in it an important
attribute, viz., the source. Wherein terminologies like environmental degradation
and climate change have caught the eye of the world, all associated sectors need to
adapt and evolve urgently. The sources mentioned here need to be environmentally
compatible at the first place. Naturally available sources come to the mind in a go
and upon proper research and enlightenment have taken the frontline of modern
research.
Deriving viable chemicals from biologically alive things or part thereof is one
such subclass to this horizon of research. The “biomass” enriched with molecular
dexterity can be scientifically exploited for the better good—extracting or synthetically converting to numerous derivatives [1].
It has been established till now that this source-class has advantages in versatile
domains, and at this point, it becomes important to gist out a few of the n-numbered
benefits it withholds.
• Environmentally Benign—This point is listed out the first and therefore the primal importance. The source comes from the environment itself and hence should
be environmentally aligned and friendly.
• Biological Compatibility—Biomass is compatible to organic matter and also is
the biomass-derived product.
• Noncarcinogenic—Most of the bio-derived scaffolds as well as the side products
involved in their production process are noncarcinogenic, enhancing their
usability.
However, forming an unbiased reference certifies biomass with a few barriers, a
low content of energy, discrete availability, seasonality, high content of moisture,
and collection costs [1, 2]. In addition, available biomass is highly scarce. As an
alternative raw material, on the other hand, biomass would be a preferable resource
as chemical manufacturing needs far lower volumes of biomass to fulfill the
demand [2–4].
In the current scenario, research toward the conversion of biomass having rich
lignocellulose content to produce fuels, chemicals, and energy due to the rapidly
increasing global energy consumption and environmental concerns has garnered
considerable interest [5–7]. Meeting energy demands in the future will require alternatives and adequate substitution to the prevailing technologies based on fossil fuels
with renewable and sustainable carbon-neutral technologies utilizing
K. C. Maheria et al.