Advances in thermochemical valorization of biomass towards carbon neutrality

In the context of carbon neutrality, the push for sustainable and low-carbon development in both economy and society have accelerated the large-scale utilization of biomass as a partial replacement for fossil fuels. As the only carbon-containing renewable resource, biomass valorization shows great potential in the production of value-added products including carbon-negative biofuels, chemicals, and carbon materials. In this review, we highlight the key aspects of thermochemical upgrading, including the thermal deconstruction of biomass feedstock, selective production of high-value chemicals, and the preparation and application of carbon-based materials. Particularly, the application of sustainable and economical pretreatments is vital for promoting efficiency in the follow-up thermochemical transformation. The introduction of catalytic materials greatly contributes to the selective production of a series of building blocks and high-value chemicals. Furthermore, it is clear that the future application of porous biochar strongly depends on the modification methods. Last but not least, the challenges and future research directions for the large-scale utilization of biomass are proposed, where effective coupling of thermal deconstruction with further upgrading into a wide range of derivatives should be given significant emphasis. This review aims to provide strong support for the realization of carbon neutrality through high-value transformation of biomass resources.