Advances in biomass valorization for sustainable biofuel production assisted by ionic liquids: processes, challenges, and industrial perspectives

The increasing global demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources has intensified interest in biofuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass. However, technical, economic, and environmental challenges continue to limit the large-scale commercialization of biofuels. This review focuses on recent advancements in biomass pretreatment, specifically the role of ionic liquids as green solvents for effective biomass fractionation. The use of ionic liquids improves the efficiency of biomass deconstruction. However, the issues related to cost, recyclability, and degradation during recovery must be addressed to support industrial adoption. This review also explores various ionic liquid recovery techniques, including distillation, membrane separation, adsorption, and aqueous biphasic systems, highlighting their efficiencies and limitations. Through this review, potential strategies for improving techno-economic feasibility and reducing environmental impact are highlighted, contributing to the broader understanding of sustainable biofuel production. The insights presented aim to support future developments in the field by identifying areas for research and innovation.