Design of Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Conversion of Furfural to C5 Derivatives: A Brief Review

Technological development made in the field of biomass application allows synthesizing several high-value products, such as furfuraldehyde. Furfural, produced through sequential hydrolysis and dehydration reactions from biomass, is considered a platform molecule and a precursor of several other chemicals and biofuels that are generated following reactions such as hydrogenation, hydrodeoxygenation, and decarboxylation. This review aims to reveal the environmental-friendly mechanisms followed for producing furfural derivatives and the design of catalysts and supports. Redox and acid-base properties of the molecules have been discussed. The stability, the details of the surface area, and the applications of the molecules to reduce the bottlenecks faced in the industrial production of bioproducts have been explored.