This chapter discusses selected recent applications of organic carbonates as reactive solvents in biorefineries and biotechnology, with emphasis on the diversity of options and functions that these solvents may play: mere solvents, reagents or extractive media. It must be noted that organic carbonates have been traditionally synthesized using activated carbonylic derivatives such as phosgene, or employing synthesis‐gas effluents (containing CO). Combined with efforts to introduce more sustainable syntheses for organic carbonates, it is worth investigating whether the solvent capabilities and reactivities of such solvents would fit within several biorefinery‐based processes. organic carbonates exert a potential double profile: on the one hand, they may be employed as solvents; on the other, their intrinsic reactivity may be used to trigger processes (e.g. acting as reagents while dissolving other substrates). Within biocatalysis, this has been the case of dimethyl carbonate (DMC), which has attracted considerable interest as solvent and as reagent to produce, for instance, glycerol carbonate. Bio‐Based Solvents Bio‐Based Solvents  Related  Information Details © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Keywords biocatalysis biorefineries biotechnology dimethyl carbonate enzymatic synthesis non‐conventional media organic carbonates reactive solvents Publication History @en