Advances in Catalytic Conversion of Lignocellulose Refining

Dear Colleagues,

The primary energy sources in contemporary society are oil, coal, and natural gas. These have significantly shaped and influenced human lifestyles. With the rapid growth of the global economy, the demand for fossil fuels continues to rise, leading to an increasingly pronounced imbalance between supply and demand. It is, therefore, imperative to expedite the strategic transformation of energy systems. In recent years, a growing number of scientists have begun focusing on developing renewable biomass energy as an alternative solution. Lignocellulose refining could potentially produce a broader spectrum of products compared to petroleum refining, and it is considered the most viable option for fully replacing petroleum. The critical factor in substituting petroleum-based products with bio-based alternatives and achieving industrial-scale implementation is the efficient catalytic conversion of various biomass components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) and the realization of green, cost-effective transformation processes. Therefore, this Special Issue of Catalysts will focus on novel approaches in the following general areas:

• Conversion Methods of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Chemical and biological catalytic approaches for lignocellulosic biomass conversion encompass saccharification, monomer production, pyrolysis, gasification, and carbonization. These methods facilitate the transformation of biomass into valuable intermediates and end-products, bridging the gap between renewable resources and industrial applications.

• Catalytic Synthesis of Advanced Materials and High-Value Chemicals

Lignocellulosic biomass serves as a renewable feedstock for the catalytic synthesis of novel materials and high-value chemicals. Through innovative catalytic strategies, biomass-derived molecules can be upgraded into functional polymers, biofuels, and specialty chemicals, contributing to a sustainable chemical industry.

• Design of Novel Catalysts and Reaction Processes

Developing new catalysts and optimized catalytic processes is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and selectivity of lignocellulose conversion. Tailored catalyst designs, coupled with advanced reaction engineering, enable more sustainable and economically viable biomass utilization pathways.

• Photo- and Electrochemical Catalytic Conversion

Leveraging light or electricity as clean energy sources, catalytic systems can drive the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into high-value products. These photo- and electrochemical approaches offer environmentally friendly alternatives, reducing reliance on traditional thermal processes and fossil fuels.

• Kinetic Modeling for Catalytic Reactions

Constructing accurate catalytic reaction kinetics models provides essential insights into lignocellulose conversion mechanisms. These models help to predict reaction outcomes, optimize process parameters, and guide the design of more efficient catalytic systems.

• AI- and Quantum Computing-Driven Catalyst Design

Advanced computational tools, including artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, enable predictive catalyst structure design and optimization. By integrating these technologies, researchers can gain an in-depth understanding of lignocellulose catalytic reactions, accelerating the discovery of high-performance catalysts and elucidating reaction mechanisms at the atomic level.

Prof. Dr. Daming Gao
Dr. Jun Zhao
Dr. Lei Gong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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.

• catalysis
• lignocellulose
• reaction kinetics
• chemicals
• mechanism