The Size-Dependent Catalytic Performances of Supported Metal Nanoparticles and Single Atoms for the Upgrading of Biomass-Derived 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural, Furfural, and Levulinic acid

The success of integrated biorefinery relies on developing robust and economical catalytic processes to produce liquid fuels and value-added chemicals from the waste lignocellulose biomass. Platform chemicals obtained from biomass are multifunctional molecules, and their upgrading via various catalytic processes requires active and selective catalysts. Supported transition metal nanoparticles have been used extensively to catalyze the upgrading of biomass-derived platform chemicals. Recent literature studies have focused on understanding the size-dependent catalytic performances of supported transition metal nanoparticles and single atoms in biomass-related chemical transformations. The catalytic behavior of transition metals depends on their size-dependent geometric and electronic structures, and by controlling the size, the catalytic behavior can be optimized. Herein, we have reviewed the synthesis methodologies and characterization techniques of supported metal nanoparticles of different sizes and supported single atoms and have summarized several literature examples employing these catalysts to upgrade biomass-derived platform chemicals such as; 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, and levulinic acid, into liquid fuels and value-added chemicals.