Formic acid–aided biomass valorization

Formic acid (FA) is a chemical being able to be produced from renewable resources such as CO2 and carbohydrates, and it is regarded as a promising sustainable liquid hydrogen source. Meanwhile, it provides acidity that is also desired in the hydrolytic transformation of biomass feedstocks. In this review, a few examples of FA-aided catalytic conversion of biomass feedstocks including lignin, cellulose and chitin are discussed, with an emphasis on the various roles of FA in these transformations. A perspective on the design of efficient catalytic system for this particular process is also presented.