Chemobiocatalytic transformation of biomass-derived D-xylose into furfuryl alcohol in a sustainable reaction system

The feasibility of chemobiocatalytic production of furfuryl alcohol from biomass-derived D -xylose was investigated using a tandem catalysis with deep eutectic solvent betaine:benzenesulfonic acid (DES BE:BA) and recombinant Escherichia coli DCF cell. The DES BE:BA (2.5 wt%) was applied to catalyze D -xylose under 170 °C for 0.5 h, resulting in a furfural yield of 51.1%. Consequently, recombinant Escherichia coli DCF fully transformed D -xylose-derived furfural to furfuryl alcohol in DES BE:BA-water under pH 7.5 and 40 °C using HCOONa as cosubstrate. This eco-friendly chemobiocatalytic strategy was successfully applied for transforming D -xylose to furfuryl alcohol in DES BE:BA-water.