LAUSR

Abstract The efficacy of ionic liquids in pretreatment and production of renewable or platform chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass have been substantiated by many research studies. The search for more efficient, low cost and less toxic ionic liquids is still an active research subject. Acidic ionic liquids (AILs) are a type of IL which has emerged as very attractive pretreatment solvents. This review described the recent developments on biomass processing ability and efficiency of different AILs. Different influential process variables are also look over for their impact on biomass pretreatment, deconstruction and yields of various targeted platform chemicals i.e. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), levulinic acid (LA) etc., total Reducing Sugars (TRS) and depolymerized products of lignin. The review also highlights the associated problems of ionic liquids i.e. challenges in utilization for the biorefinery, stability, recycling and environmental hazards, that faces in its utilization for biomass processing. The cost is a key factor in any chemical process, therefore, an overview of the cost-effectiveness of AILS have been provided.