Hydrothermal process is an emerging technology that contributes to sustainable production of biomass-derived chemicals, fuels, and materials. This technology uses hot compressed water to convert various biomass feedstocks including recalcitrant organic compounds in biowastes into desired solid, liquid, and gaseous products. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the hydrothermal conversion of lignocellulosic as well as nonlignocellulosic biomass to value-added products and bioenergy to fulfill the principles of circular economy. However, it is important to assess hydrothermal processes in terms of their capabilities and limitations from different sustainability aspects so that further advances can be made toward improvement of their technical maturity and commercialization potential. The key aims of this comprehensive review are to (a) explain the inherent properties of biomass feedstocks and physio-chemical characteristics of their bioproducts, (b) elucidate related transformation pathways, (c) clarify the role of hydrothermal process for biomass conversion, (d) evaluate the capability of hydrothermal treatment coupled with other technologies for producing novel chemicals, fuels and materials, (e) explore different sustainability assessments of hydrothermal processes for potential large-scale applications, and (f) offer our perspectives to facilitate the transition from a primarily petro-based to an alternative biobased society in the context of changing climate.

中文翻译：

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用于化学品、燃料和材料可持续生产的生物质原料的水热处理：进展与展望

水热过程是一种新兴技术，有助于可持续生产生物质衍生化学品、燃料和材料。该技术使用热压缩水将各种生物质原料（包括生物废物中的顽固有机化合物）转化为所需的固体、液体和气体产品。近年来，在将木质纤维素和非木质纤维素生物质水热转化为增值产品和生物能源以实现循环经济原则方面取得了相当大的进展。然而，重要的是从不同的可持续性方面评估水热过程的能力和局限性，以便进一步提高其技术成熟度和商业化潜力。