Sustainable Catalytic Conversion of Biomass
A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomass Catalysis".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: reaction kinetics; acid catalysis; oxidation; epoxidation, ozonation; oxide catalysts; mesoporous supports; modulation excitation spectroscopy; spectrokinetics; computational chemistry; vapor–liquid and liquid–liquid phase equilibria; reactions in gas expanded liquid
Interests: heterogeneous catalysis; advanced catalyst synthesis; in situ/operando spectroscopy and spectrokinetics; reaction kinetics; biomass and alternative feedstock conversion; oxidation reactions; fuels and chemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, the conversion of biomass into various valuable chemicals has gained significant momentum, driven by exciting opportunities in research and innovation. Biomass offers a versatile and renewable platform for producing both high-volume products—such as BTXs, olefins, alcohols, hydrogen, and hydrocarbon feedstocks—and high-value compounds including oxygen-containing molecules, heterocyclic compounds, polycarboxylic acids, and sugars.
The diversity and complexity of biomass feedstocks open up rich possibilities for developing robust and sustainable catalytic processes. These processes must accommodate variations in biomass structure and composition, as well as naturally occurring or process-introduced impurities. As technologies advance toward commercialization, the design of resilient catalysts and efficient conversion pathways is becoming increasingly important.
This Special Issue welcomes submissions that explore innovative approaches and breakthroughs in biomass conversion, including but not limited to the following topics:
- Advanced biomass fractionation techniques that enhance downstream catalytic performance.
- Catalytic transformation of biomass-derived components (e.g., polysaccharides, chitin, lignin) into platform chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fine and specialty chemicals, functional polymers, and composites. Contributions focusing on specific catalytic steps such as dehydration or hydrodeoxygenation are also encouraged.
- Catalyst design and performance studies, including investigations into reusability, stability, and resistance to elements such as sulfur, nitrogen, and alkali metals.
- Life cycle analysis with a focus on catalyst sustainability and process efficiency.
We look forward to your contributions that highlight the exciting potential of biomass as a foundation for sustainable chemical production.
Dr. Hongda Zhu
Dr. Juan J. Bravo-Suarez
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. 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.
Keywords
- biomass conversion
- catalysis sustainability
- fractionation and feedstock diversification
- polysaccharides and lignin valorization
- lifecycle analysis (LCA) and catalyst durability
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
