New synthetic approaches to biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass

Lignocellulose from terrestrial plant biomass is abundant and contains polymeric carbohydrates and lignin; both recognized as attractive renewable feedstocks for energy, chemicals and materials as alternatives to fossils to meet the targets for future sustainable development. Liquid biofuels are particularly important renewable commodities because of the vast infrastructure already in place to use them, especially for transportation, and efficient synthetic approaches and viable commercial manufacture processes are under development for both drop-in fuels and new fuel compounds. This work surveys the recent trends in lignocellulosic biomass conversion into fuels, and highlights innovative synthetic approaches based on novel chemo- and bio-catalyst systems and process strategies using biomass-derived carbohydrates and technical lignin.