Through a series of case studies it is demonstrated that microwave dielectric heating can be a powerful tool to recover and synthesize valuable molecules from a wide range of biomass types. In addition, under microwave irradiation the production of chemicals from biomass proceeds at markedly lower temperatures (up to 150 degrees C) compared to conventional heating. This has a secondary benefit in that molecules with a high degree of functionality are produced while conventional heating tends to produce a great proportion of lower value gases. Furthermore, the technical set-up of a microwave reactor can easily accommodate for an in-situ separation of acids and valuable products therewith improving the shelf life of the latter. The benefits of combining hydrothermal conditions with microwave irradiation are also illustrated. In addition, a specialized case of selective heating in a biphasic reaction system is discussed, allowing for improved yields and selectivity. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.