Application of biochar-based catalysts in biomass upgrading: a review

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 7; no. 77; pp. 48793 - 4885
• Main Authors: Cao, Xuefei, Sun, Shaoni, Sun, Runcang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2017
• Subjects: acids; biochar; biodiesel; biomass; catalysts; fuel production; gasification; hydrochars; hydrolysis; moieties; pyrolysis; surface area
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ra09307a

Biochar is a low-cost carbon-rich material derived from the thermochemical degradation of biomass. Due to its unique chemical structure, biochar with a large surface area and tailored surface functional groups can be easily prepared by activation and/or functionalization, and shows great potential to be used as a versatile catalyst and/or catalyst support in many chemical processes. However, the application of biochars as versatile catalysts and/or catalyst supports for biomass upgrading has not been systematically overviewed so far. In this work, the formation of pyrochar and hydrochar is proposed, and the activation and/or functionalization of biochar are also included. Subsequently, the application of biochar-based catalysts in biomass upgrading, including biochar-based solid acids for biomass hydrolysis and dehydration, biochar-based catalysts for biodiesel production, and biochars as catalyst supports for biomass pyrolysis, gasification, and bio-oil upgrading, are discussed in detail. The application of biochars as versatile catalysts and/or catalyst supports for biomass upgrading is systematically overviewed.