As the global energy sector transitions away from fossil-based systems, the demand for cleaner, renewable, and carbon-neutral alternatives continues to grow. Biomass and solid organic wastes (such as agricultural residues, algae, municipal food waste, or sewage sludge) have emerged as vital resources for the production of biofuels and platform petrochemicals, offering pathways toward a more sustainable, circular, and decarbonized energy future.
Goal:
This Research Topic aims to explore recent advances in catalytic conversion technologies that transform biomass and solid organic wastes into valuable fuels and chemicals. Emphasis will be placed on catalytic processes such as pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, gasification, hydrogenolysis, reforming, and upgrading, as well as heterogeneous, homogeneous, and biocatalysts, including metal oxides, zeolites, supported nanocatalysts, and hybrid materials.
In addition to process development and catalyst innovation, this collection encourages contributions that address reaction mechanisms, techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, scaling-up potential, and integration with carbon capture, energy systems, and circular bioeconomy frameworks.
Scope and Information for Authors:
We invite original research, critical reviews, and modeling studies that advance the frontier of biomass valorization through catalysis for biofuel and green chemical production, bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial application.
Key themes include (but are not limited to):
• Catalytic pyrolysis, reforming, and liquefaction of biomass and residues • Zeolite- and metal oxide-based hybrid catalysts for upgrading bio-oil • Co-processing of biomass with solid organic wastes • Catalyst design for selectivity and stability in biomass conversion • Kinetic modeling and reaction mechanism studies • Catalytic routes to green hydrogen and syngas from biomass • Upgrading bio-crude to drop-in fuels and petrochemical precursors • Life cycle, environmental, and techno-economic assessments • Integration with CCUS, biorefineries, and renewable power sources
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
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.
