Hydroxymethylfurfural as an Intermediate of Cellulose Carbonization.

Invited for this month's cover is the group of Haruo Kawamoto at Kyoto University (Japan). The cover picture shows the carbonization pathway of cellulose via 5-hydroxymethylfurfural as an important intermediate. Thermochemical conversion is one of the promising technologies to convert cellulose, which is the main component of lignocellulosic biomass, into biofuels and biochemicals. Understanding the molecular mechanism of thermal degradation of cellulose is important for developing efficient conversion techniques by controlling the reaction. Read the full text of their Full Paper at 10.1002/open.202000314.