Catalytic valorisation of agro-forestry biomass wastes to ethylene glycol

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54985/peeref.2401w9029636

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Concerns about global warming have motivated the search for alternative renewable resources. One of the most interesting and efficient pathways for a future sustainable society dependent on biomass is its conversion to high-added value chemicals, due to its greenness and energy efficiency compared to other processes. Furthermore, the development of an efficient process for biomass production into ethylene glycol (EG) is highly required due to its increasing demand. EG plays an important role in the synthesis of high-value chemicals that have large market demand, such as polymers (e.g., polyester fibers), antifreeze products and cosmetics. Therefore, this work focused on the direct conversion of forestry and agricultural lignocellulosic wastes into EG by an environmentally friendly process that uses only water and does not require the use of any acids.