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. [Display omitted] •The feasibility of producing FOL from xylose through chemobiocatalysis was tested.•The new acid catalyst DES BE:BA-water system was used as solvent and chemocatalyst.•Xylose was dehydrated to FAL (51% yield) by BE:BA (2.5 wt%) at 170 °C for 0.5 h.•The newly constructed DCF cells catalyzed FAL to FOL using HCOONa as cosubstrate.•Chemobiocatalytic conversion of xylose was used to produce FOL in a high yield.