Towards the Valorization of Biomass to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural: A Promising Biochemical and Biofuel Feedstock

The increasing oil demand and exhaustion of reserves have initiated stimulus to search for new and sustainable sources of fuels and fine chemicals. Lignocellulosic biomass turned out to be a promising and renewable feedstock for these applications. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is one of the most promising building blocks for bio-based chemicals that can be derived from lignocellulosic biomass which can be potentially applied for large scale production. However, one of the main factors holding its transition is the need for sustainable, green and financially feasible processes. This review provides the studies made towards catalytic systems used for HMF production, as well as the various solvents and heating system applied. Research efforts to unravel the interactions among catalysts, solvents, and heating systems are encouraged, thereby engineering a synergistic conversion system for biomass valorization.