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Innovative upgrading pathways for the one-pot conversion of biomass and related substrates to alkyl levulinates: advancements and optimization.

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Title: Innovative upgrading pathways for the one-pot conversion of biomass and related substrates to alkyl levulinates: advancements and optimization.
Authors: Kim, Soolim1 (AUTHOR), Lim, Sam Yeol1 (AUTHOR), Lee, Dong-Jun2,3 (AUTHOR), Jung, Sungyup1,4 (AUTHOR) sjung001@knu.ac.kr, Lee, Jechan1,5 (AUTHOR) jechanlee@skku.edu
Source: Chemical Engineering Journal. Apr2026, Vol. 533, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Biomass conversion, Catalysis, Sustainable chemistry, Biomass chemicals, Chemical synthesis, Alternative fuels, Process optimization
Abstract: Alkyl levulinates (ALs) are promising biomass-derived platform molecules for the production of renewable fuels and sustainable chemicals. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of one-pot conversion strategies for AL production, emphasizing how feedstock composition, catalyst functionality, and reaction conditions jointly determine AL yield and selectivity. One-pot routes are discussed for a wide range of biomass and biomass-related feedstocks, including carbohydrates, lignocellulosic residues, food waste, and biomass-derived intermediates such as furfural, furfuryl alcohol, and levulinic acid. Sugar-based feedstocks generally afford higher AL yields owing to their relatively low structural complexity, whereas lignin-containing biomass and heterogeneous waste streams require additional hydrolysis, isomerization, and dehydration steps, which increase humin formation and reduce carbon efficiency. Reaction conditions and representative catalytic systems are systematically reviewed, demonstrating that high AL yields (up to ∼98%) and good recyclability can be achieved under mild conditions when Brønsted–Lewis acidity, active-site stabilization, and mass transport are properly balanced. Although one-pot conversion simplifies biomass valorization, challenges remain in terms of selectivity loss, humin formation, catalyst deactivation, and scale-up feasibility for complex feedstocks. Overall, this review provides mechanistic insights and practical guidelines for advancing one-pot AL synthesis toward sustainable chemical and fuel production from biomass wastes. [Display omitted] • Alkyl levulinate (AL) production from different biomass feedstocks were reviewed • Integrating one-pot syntheses of ALs from biomass raw feedstocks were discussed • Structural complexity and isomerization difficulty made low AL and high humin yield • For multiple reactions in one-pot reactor, multifunctional materials were required • Lignin-rich substrates suffered from one-pot AL synthesis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
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Abstract:Alkyl levulinates (ALs) are promising biomass-derived platform molecules for the production of renewable fuels and sustainable chemicals. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of one-pot conversion strategies for AL production, emphasizing how feedstock composition, catalyst functionality, and reaction conditions jointly determine AL yield and selectivity. One-pot routes are discussed for a wide range of biomass and biomass-related feedstocks, including carbohydrates, lignocellulosic residues, food waste, and biomass-derived intermediates such as furfural, furfuryl alcohol, and levulinic acid. Sugar-based feedstocks generally afford higher AL yields owing to their relatively low structural complexity, whereas lignin-containing biomass and heterogeneous waste streams require additional hydrolysis, isomerization, and dehydration steps, which increase humin formation and reduce carbon efficiency. Reaction conditions and representative catalytic systems are systematically reviewed, demonstrating that high AL yields (up to ∼98%) and good recyclability can be achieved under mild conditions when Brønsted–Lewis acidity, active-site stabilization, and mass transport are properly balanced. Although one-pot conversion simplifies biomass valorization, challenges remain in terms of selectivity loss, humin formation, catalyst deactivation, and scale-up feasibility for complex feedstocks. Overall, this review provides mechanistic insights and practical guidelines for advancing one-pot AL synthesis toward sustainable chemical and fuel production from biomass wastes. [Display omitted] • Alkyl levulinate (AL) production from different biomass feedstocks were reviewed • Integrating one-pot syntheses of ALs from biomass raw feedstocks were discussed • Structural complexity and isomerization difficulty made low AL and high humin yield • For multiple reactions in one-pot reactor, multifunctional materials were required • Lignin-rich substrates suffered from one-pot AL synthesis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:13858947
DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2026.174833