Transitioning from hydrogen to methane in biorefineries: A sustainable route to clean energy and chemicals

Abstract

This review discusses the sustainable transformation of low-quality hydrocarbon fuels, such as biomass-derived bio-oil, into valuable chemicals and clean fuels by introducing the concept of "methanotreating" that uses methane as a hydrogen source for the deoxygenation of bio-oils, thereby addressing environmental concerns associated with conventional hydrogen production. We explore the challenges of methane activation and its potential in biomass upgrading, highlighting the importance of catalyst selection and composition. Methanotreating is a promising and sustainable method for producing high-quality fuels and chemicals, with a deoxygenation performance of over 95%. This present work calls for further research and development in catalyst design and application to advance this innovative approach toward a greener and more efficient energy future.