Advances in DMF and C-5/C-6 Alkanes Production from Lignocellulose

Lignocellulosic biomass is an important renewable resource, and has potential application in high quality biofuels to substitute fossil energy and reduce green house gas emission. Among those high quality biofuels, oxygen-contained 2,5-dimethyl furan (DMF) and C-5/C-6 alkanes show particular interests because these two kinds fuels could be produced from biomass via 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) intermediate. DMF is an ideal replacement and/or dopant for the presently used gasoline by enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing contaminant emission because of its higher energy density, higher octane number and higher boiling point. On the other hand, C-5/C-6 alkanes are the important gasoline components for adjusting the octane number and volatile properties. In this paper, combining our studies, we systematically summarize the status-of-the-art technologies for HMF synthesis from cellulose, and DMF and C-5/C-6 alkanes production by selective and complete hydrodeoxygenation of HMF respectively, depended on reaction medium, catalyst and pathway. The reaction mediums include water, ionic liquid, polar aprotic organic solvent and water contained biphasic solvent; and catalysts include inorganic acid, metal salt, solid acid and supported catalyst. Finally, the future of biomass derived DMF and C-5/C-6 alkanes production is remarked and prospected