Nanoporous catalysts for biomass conversion

Biomass conversion is potentially important for producing renewable fuels and chemicals in the future, and the nanoporous materials as acidic, basic, or metallic catalysts play important roles in the biomass conversion. This paper briefly summarizes recent developments on the nanoporous material-based catalysts used for biomass conversion, including mesoporous/macroporous resins, mesoporous metal oxides, microporous/mesoporous carbons, mesoporous silicas, hierarchically mesoporous polydivinylbenzene, and microporous zeolites. Due to their superior thermal and hydrothermal stability, controllable acidity, and relatively easy introduction of mesoporosity into the crystals, compared with other nanoporous catalysts, zeolites have good opportunities for application in biomass conversion.