Advances in Nanocatalyst Design for Biofuel Production

The exploitation of nanocatalysts, at the boundary between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, offers new efficient ways to produce renewable biofuels in environmentally friendly conditions. Specifically, biodiesel and high density fuels have been chosen as major topics of research for the design of catalytic nanomaterials. As solid-state catalysts, they are recyclable, and their nanometric particle size enables high activities that approach those of homogeneous catalysts. In addition, they offer novel and unique catalytic behaviors not accessible to solids above the nanometer range. Furthermore, the use of magnetically active materials has led to the development of nanocatalysts easily recoverable through the application of magnetic fields. In this Minireview, the latest achievements in the production of advanced biofuels using stable, highly active, cheap and reusable nanocatalysts are described.