Advanced technological approaches and market status analysis of xylose bioconversion and utilization: Xylooligosacharides and xylonic acid as emerging products

The efficient conversion of xylose is a short board of cask effect to lignocellulosic biorefining, by markedly affecting the total economic and environmental benefits. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the current commercial status of traditional xylose utilization and industrial technology development, this review outlines new technological avenues for the efficient utilization of xylose from lignocellulosic biomass, focusing on super prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides and multifunctional platform compound xylonic acid. Firstly, the traditional products that can be derived from lignocellulosic xylose, including xylitol (447.88 billion USD in 2022), furfural (662 million USD in 2023), and bioethanol (46.18 billion USD in 2022), are introduced along with the current market status and latest production technologies. Then, the discussion covers the industrial development and production methods of xylo-oligosaccharides, and highlights the potential of xylonic acid, focusing on innovative whole-cell catalysis in a sealed oxygen supply-bioreactor system. Finally, other directions for efficient and high-value utilization of lignocellulosic xylose are summarized, including lactic acid, succinic acid, and 2,3-butanediol. This review aims to provide new perspectives on the utilization and valorization of xylose by summarizing main traditional industrial products and emerging products, thereby promoting the development of the entire lignocellulosic biomass field.