Biomass Innovations for a Renewable and Sustainable Chemicals Industry

The field of green and sustainable chemistry has emerged as a response to the pressing challenges posed by continued reliance on fossil fuels for chemical production. Biomass—encompassing agricultural waste, forestry by-products, and dedicated energy crops—represents a promising, renewable alternative for generating platform chemicals and fuels. Current debates center on how to capitalize on biomass’s potential without compromising efficiency, economic viability, or environmental integrity. Recent studies have highlighted the success of advanced bioengineering approaches and novel catalytic systems in improving yields and selectivity during biomass conversion, while demonstrating incremental reductions in the overall carbon footprint of such processes. However, significant questions remain regarding scalability, process sustainability, and integration of green chemistry principles throughout the value chain.

Research over the past decade has explored an expanding array of technologies for converting various forms of biomass into renewable chemicals. Notable successes include the development of robust catalysts that enable milder reaction conditions, reduction of hazardous by-products, and enhanced atom economy. Progress in bioengineering, such as the microbial valorization of lignocellulosic biomass, has widened the scope of feedstocks and diversified product profiles. Despite these advances, gaps persist in optimizing the energy balance of conversion processes, achieving full lifecycle sustainability, and aligning with increasingly stringent environmental standards. There is a clearly articulated need for more holistic approaches that address these gaps and offer scalable, industry-relevant solutions.

This Research Topic aims to showcase the latest research and technological breakthroughs in converting biomass into renewable chemicals, with a strong emphasis on both sustainability and green chemistry. The objective is to highlight methodologies that improve process efficiency, minimize waste, and reduce environmental impacts, all underpinned by the guiding principles of green chemistry. Through global contributions, we hope to answer critical questions regarding the adoption of renewable resources and the transformation of the chemical industry towards a greener future.

This Research Topic encompasses the full spectrum of research on transforming biomass into renewable chemicals, with a particular focus on sustainable practices and implementation of green chemistry. Papers should address scientific, technical, or engineering perspectives without straying beyond the scope of renewable chemical production from biomass. To gather further insights in these areas, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
-Biomass selection and preparation: investigation of different biomass sources and their pretreatment strategies
-Advances in biomass conversion technologies: latest thermal, chemical, and biological approaches for efficient transformation
-Green chemistry and biomass: integration of green chemistry principles to minimize waste and environmental harm
-Emerging catalysts in biomass conversion: design and application of novel catalysts for selective and high-yield conversion
-Bioengineering and biomass: innovative methods in metabolic and process engineering to enhance utilization
-Systems analysis and lifecycle assessment of biomass-to-chemical pathways
-Challenges and opportunities in scaling up and industrial integration

Keywords: biomass conversion, renewable chemicals, green chemistry, sustainable technologies, bioengineering

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.