Combined dehydrogenation of glycerol with catalytic transfer hydrogenation of H(2) acceptors to chemicals: Opportunities and challenges

Catalytic transformation of low-cost glycerol to value-added lactic acid (LA) is considered as one of the most promising technologies for the upgradation of glycerol into renewable products. Currently, research studies reveal that anaerobic transformation of glycerol to LA could also obtain green H(2) with the same yield of LA. However, the combined value-added utilization of released H(2) with high selectivity of LA during glycerol conversion under mild conditions still remains a grand challenge. In this perspective, for the first time, we conducted a comprehensive and critical discussion on current strategies for combined one-pot/tandem dehydrogenation of glycerol to LA with catalytic transfer hydrogenation of H(2) acceptors (such as CO(2)) to other chemicals. The aim of this overview was to provide a general guidance on the atomic economic reaction pathway for upgrading low-cost glycerol and CO(2) to LA as well as other chemicals.