LAUSR

Biomass is one of the most promising alternatives to petroleum-derived materials and plays a major role in fighting against global warming by providing renewable sources of chemicals and materials. Owing to its chemical and structural complexity, the transformation of biomass into value-added products requires profound understanding of its composition at different scales and using innovative methods such as combining physical and chemical processes. In this context, the use of mechanochemistry in biomass valorization is currently growing owing to its potentials as an efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approach, which can facilitate biomass valorization. This review highlights the latest advances in the transformation of biomass (i.e., chitin, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and starch) to functional materials using mechanochemical-assisted methods. The methodology of biomass processing, influencing factors, and resulting properties are discussed with an emphasis on achieving functional materials rather than breaking down the biopolymer chains. The opportunities and limitations associated this methodology are discussed accordingly for future directions.