Publication date: 15th December 2025
Electrocatalytic biomass conversion offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to producing high-added-value products in a gentler, safer, and greener manner compared to traditional thermochemical or biochemical methods.
Key process in electrochemistry is water splitting, where the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode provides electrons and protons required for hydrogen generation (HER) at the cathode. However, the economic feasibility of OER is hindered by the low market value of oxygen and the high overpotentials involved. Therefore, there is a growing interest in identifying alternative anode reactions that reduce overpotentials and produce compounds with higher added value for the chemical industry. [1,2] In this context, biomass valorization emerges as an attractive substitute for water oxidation.[3]
Our research group has focused on the electrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a biomass-derived molecule, as an alternative reaction to OER. Using nickel electrodes, we successfully oxidized HMF to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA),[4] a valuable building block for pharmaceuticals and polymers.[5]
Additionally, we explored the electroreduction of HMF, obtaining 2,5-bis-hydroxymethylfuran (BHMF) as the primary product.[6] BHMF is an essential precursor for polyurethane foams and polyesters. This reduction process was performed using copper and silver electrodes, with superior performance observed when combining the two metals, such as copper foil decorated with silver.
In summary, we have developed processes for both the electrooxidation and electroreduction of HMF in aqueous media under mild, ecological, and safe conditions, yielding value-added products in each case.
PLEC2023-010376 financed by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER
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