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Biomass
Special Issues
Biochar and the Circular Bioeconomy: Innovations in Biomass Utilisation
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Biochar and the Circular Bioeconomy: Innovations in Biomass Utilisation

A special issue of Biomass (ISSN 2673-8783).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 1814

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kaveh Khalilpour

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
Interests: process systems engineering; sustainable energy systems; energy storage; optimisation; systems integration; networks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Andrew Hoadley

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Interests: sustainable production; process integration and optimisation; carbon storage and utilisation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition to a circular bioeconomy presents an unprecedented opportunity to reshape how biomass is utilised for sustainable resource management and climate resilience. Biochar—an increasingly versatile material derived from biomass pyrolysis—has emerged as a critical enabler in this transition, offering solutions for carbon sequestration, soil enhancement, water purification, energy production, and beyond.

This Special Issue invites original research articles, reviews, and case studies that explore the innovative roles of biochar in advancing circular bioeconomy principles. We seek contributions that address biochar's applications across sectors (agriculture, energy, waste management, construction, etc.), as well as its integration into circular value chains, lifecycle impacts, policy frameworks, and technological advancements.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced biochar production methods and system integration.
  • Biochar applications in soil health, carbon capture, and nutrient cycling.
  • Biochar in waste valorisation, water treatment, and industrial use.
  • Techno-economic and life cycle assessments of biochar pathways.
  • Policy, governance, and business models enabling biochar-based circular solutions.

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions spanning environmental engineering, agronomy, materials science, energy systems, and socio-economic analysis.

Dr. Kaveh Khalilpour
Dr. Andrew Hoadley
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomass is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biochar
  • circular bioeconomy
  • biomass valorisation
  • carbon sequestration
  • waste-to-resource
  • pyrolysis
  • sustainable agriculture
  • life cycle assessment
  • techno-economic analysis
  • resource circularity

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

36 pages, 479 KB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review on Sustainable Conversion of Spent Coffee Grounds into Energy Resources and Environmental Applications
by Jawaher Al Balushi, Shamail Al Saadi, Mitra Ahanchi, Manar Al Attar, Tahereh Jafary, Muna Al Hinai, Anteneh Mesfin Yeneneh and J. Sadhik Basha
Biomass 2025, 5(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass5030055 - 10 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1513
Abstract
Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), a globally abundant by-product of the coffee industry, represent a significant source of lignocellulosic biomass with considerable valorization potential. Rich in organic compounds, lipids, and antioxidants, SCGs are increasingly recognized as a sustainable feedstock for energy, materials, and environmental [...] Read more.
Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), a globally abundant by-product of the coffee industry, represent a significant source of lignocellulosic biomass with considerable valorization potential. Rich in organic compounds, lipids, and antioxidants, SCGs are increasingly recognized as a sustainable feedstock for energy, materials, and environmental applications within a circular bioeconomy framework. This review critically examines recent advances in SCG valorization via thermochemical, biochemical, and material-based pathways. The review focuses on the conversion of SCGs into biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, and bio-oil), activated carbon for water and air purification, biodegradable polymers, and soil-enhancing amendments. Comparative analyses of process conditions, product yields, and techno-economic feasibility are provided through summarized tables. Although laboratory-scale studies demonstrate promising outcomes, challenges persist in terms of process scalability, environmental impacts, feedstock variability, and lack of regulatory standardization. Furthermore, comprehensive life cycle assessments and policy integration remain underdeveloped. By merging all findings, this review identifies key knowledge gaps and outlines strategic directions for future research, including the development of integrated valorization platforms, hybrid conversion systems, and industrial-scale implementation. The findings support the role of SCG valorization in advancing sustainable resource management and contribute directly to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biochar and the Circular Bioeconomy: Innovations in Biomass Utilisation)
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