Ionic liquids and gamma-valerolactone as case studies for green solvents in the deconstruction and refining of biomass

In quest of shifting to a sustainable biobased economy, lignocellulose is becoming an increasingly important feedstock. However, its valorization demands the deconstruction of the lignocellulosic matrix and selective fractionation of the single constituents. Established pulping and refining technologies are often focusing on the isolation of cellulose only or suffer from environmental shortcomings.

Herein, we discuss the most recent developments regarding two novel solvent systems for biomass refining. We summarize the latest progress made in the area of ionic liquids, with a special emphasis on the techno-economic feasibility in terms of costs and recyclability. In the second part, we highlight the global achievements in the field of gamma-valerolactone-based pulping of biomass, looking at the key contributions from various continents.