Open Access

REVIEW

Key Steps and Catalyst Performance for Conversion of Cellulose to Isosorbide: A Review

Dan Wang, Jihuan Song, Qiyuan Wang, Chenmeng Cui, Ying Yang^*

State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing, 102249, China

* Corresponding Author: Ying Yang. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Recent Advances on Renewable Materials)

Journal of Renewable Materials 2025, 13(1), 49-78. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2024.056644

Received 27 July 2024; Accepted 20 September 2024; Issue published 20 January 2025

Abstract

Upgrading of abundant cellulosic biomass to isosorbide can reduce the dependence on limited fossil resources and provide a sustainable way to produce isosorbide, utilized for polymers, medicine and health care product synthesis. This review comprehensively examines the key steps and catalytic systems involved in the conversion of cellulose to isosorbide. Initially, the reaction pathway from cellulose to isosorbide is elucidated, emphasizing three critical steps: cellulose hydrolysis, glucose hydrogenation, and the two-step dehydration of sorbitol to produce isosorbide. Additionally, the activation energy and acidic sites during cellulose hydrolysis, the impact of metal particle size and catalyst support on hydrogenation, and the effects of catalyst acidity, pore structure, and reaction conditions on sorbitol dehydration have been thoroughly examined. Finally, the progress made in cellulose conversion to isosorbide is summarized, current challenges are highlighted, and future development trends are projected in this review.

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