About this Research Topic
The global economy uses fossil fuels as a primary source of energy and high-value chemicals. The over-exploitation of these resources has led to supply shortages, while prices have consistently been increasing in the past few decades. What is more, the burning of fossil fuels has aggravated the problems of environmental pollution and global warming. Consequently, the risks of climate change and energy insecurity have put enormous financial pressure on the global economy. In accordance with the adoption of a circular economy focusing on energy and environmental sectors, current fossil-derived systems are being reinvented to ensure Carbon (C) cycling and C neutrality in order to reduce the environmental footprint.
Biomass is probably the oldest source of energy after the sun. Biomass is abundantly available in the form of agricultural residues, forest waste, and debris from the wood industry. These biomass resources contain a high proportion of convertible sugars ranging from C1 to C6, which are abundant and renewable resources. A wide range of platform chemicals and biofuels can be produced from these resources. These derivatives have emerged as potential, sustainable and green alternatives to the nonrenewable fossil derivatives. Not only are they low in carbon emissions when used, therefore more environmentally benign, but they may also help to reduce fuel import bills and boost the rural economy. The formation of these derivatives is in line with sustainable development goals (SDGs) of climate action aiming to reduce CO2 emissions and a reduction in the foreseen temperature rise.
The aim of this Research Topic is to contribute to the development of the green industry processes in the field of biofuels and biochemicals, the evaluation of the current green chemistry scenario for the development of green processes, and sharing of the knowledge. We welcome high-quality research contributions describing conceptual, constructive, empirical, experimental, or theoretical work in the areas of biomass conversion and production of biofuels and bioderivaties along with the conceptual design of biorefineries.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Sustainable process for biomass pretreatment, fractionation, and conversion to different bioderivatives
• The performance of new catalytic materials for the conversion of biomass and derived sugars to biofuels and bioderivates
• Reaction mechanism and kinetics for the production of biofuels and bioderivaties
• Economic feasibility and life cycle analysis, including environmental impacts and economic assessment of products and/or processes.
Biomass is probably the oldest source of energy after the sun. Biomass is abundantly available in the form of agricultural residues, forest waste, and debris from the wood industry. These biomass resources contain a high proportion of convertible sugars ranging from C1 to C6, which are abundant and renewable resources. A wide range of platform chemicals and biofuels can be produced from these resources. These derivatives have emerged as potential, sustainable and green alternatives to the nonrenewable fossil derivatives. Not only are they low in carbon emissions when used, therefore more environmentally benign, but they may also help to reduce fuel import bills and boost the rural economy. The formation of these derivatives is in line with sustainable development goals (SDGs) of climate action aiming to reduce CO2 emissions and a reduction in the foreseen temperature rise.
The aim of this Research Topic is to contribute to the development of the green industry processes in the field of biofuels and biochemicals, the evaluation of the current green chemistry scenario for the development of green processes, and sharing of the knowledge. We welcome high-quality research contributions describing conceptual, constructive, empirical, experimental, or theoretical work in the areas of biomass conversion and production of biofuels and bioderivaties along with the conceptual design of biorefineries.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Sustainable process for biomass pretreatment, fractionation, and conversion to different bioderivatives
• The performance of new catalytic materials for the conversion of biomass and derived sugars to biofuels and bioderivates
• Reaction mechanism and kinetics for the production of biofuels and bioderivaties
• Economic feasibility and life cycle analysis, including environmental impacts and economic assessment of products and/or processes.
Keywords: Biomass, Biofuels, Bioderivatives, Biochemicals, Kinetics, Process design, Sustainability, Sustainable Chemical Engineering, Life Cycle Assessment, Cost Analysis
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
