Catalytic Production of High-Value Chemicals from High Volume Non-food Biomass

Growing population and energy crises with depletion in fossil resources have necessitated efforts to find a sustainable solution. With circular production and abundant availability, biomass is regarded as an effective renewable option to produce chemicals and fuels. Every year, over 40 million tons of non-food biomass such as sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, paddy straw, and wood shavings are produced. Many of them are thrown or burned in the open air leading to environmental pollution. Converting these discarded biomasses into chemicals and fuels could minimize waste disposal issues and reduce dependency on fossil fuels without competing with the demand for increased food production, which the world is facing due to shrinking landholdings and growing population. Indeed, it has the potential to reduce environmental issues associated with climate change and employment generation in rural areas. Herein, recent advances in non-food biomass conversion processes via chemo-catalytic routes are discussed. This chapter will not only give a better understanding of the current catalytic process on biomass but also provide proper direction in the development of successful biorefinery for a sustainable future.