Organosolv process: from biomass to sustainable products.

Numerous research studies have recently demonstrated a huge physical potential of the cascade companies’ utilization of the renewable waste ligno-cellulosic biomass sources by the fractionation, de-polymerization and valorization of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, separation, and the subsequent catalytic conversion of the monomeric building blocks to biofuels bio-based chemical substances and biomaterials. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), levulinic acid (LA) precursors and furfural (FUR) are in most characteristic platform compound compositions, produced by the water-mediated acidic hydrolysis of furans, pentose and hexose carbohydrate sugars, can by hydrogenated, oxidized or dehydrated, and were subjected to the surprisingly many systematic modeling applications on various operation scales. However, only a limited representative number of works managed to link any of atomistic- (ab initio density functional theory (DFT)), meso- (kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC), mean-field mechanistic rate micro-kinetics and diffusion) or macroscales (computational fluid dynamics (CFD), process model simulations and techno-economics), or integrate them together with classical equipment environment engineering tools (reaction energy thermodynamics, optimizing heat, momentum and mass balances and applicative reactor design). This review article highlights the integration of interface chemistry methods as an emerging development approach that allows linking the insights about the molecular level measurements with elementary surface steps, while further with diffusive/convective transfers and process integration.

The gasification of biomass is one of the most prominent technologies for the conversion of the raw material feedstock to polymers, useful chemical substances and energy. The main engineering challenge during the processing of wastes is the presence of tars in gaseous reaction products, which could make this operation methodology unsuccessfully due to the blockage of separating particle filters, fuel line flow and substantial transfer losses. Catalytic hydrocarbon cracking appears to be a promising developing approach for their optimal removal. However, the enhancement of catalyst activity kinetics, selectivity, stability, the resistance to (ir)reversible coke deposition, and its regeneration solutions are nowadays still highly in demand. The review is dedicated to the comparative systematic evaluation of the various natural, synthetic and hybrid types, converting the model molecular compounds into benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX), (poly)aromatics, syngas and others. The recent scientific progress, including calcite, dolomite, lime, magnesite, olivine, char, non-metallic activated carbons, supported alkali, noble and transition metals, and (metal-promoted) zeolites, is presented. A special concentrated attention was paid to effectiveness, related to hydrogenation, peculiar pore structure and formulations’ suitable acidity. The role of catalysis is described, the recommendations for perspective catalyzed mechanisms are provided, and future technical feasibility is discussed as well.