Advances in Biomass Conversion and Valorization: from Conventional to Emerging Technologies
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 17
Special Issue Editor
Interests: thermochemical biomass conversion; catalytic pyrolysis; bio-oil upgrading; biofuels; gasification; hydrogen production; plastic waste thermochemical valorization; activated biochars; NOx adsorption; biofilters
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to fossil-based resources has placed biomass at the forefront of global strategies for a circular bioeconomy. Biomass, as an abundant and renewable feedstock, offers a promising pathway for the production of energy, fuels, chemicals, and materials. However, unlocking its full potential requires continued innovation in conversion and valorization technologies to address challenges related to efficiency, selectivity, scalability, and environmental impact.
This Special Issue, “Advances in Biomass Conversion and Valorization: From Conventional to Emerging Technologies”, aims to provide a comprehensive platform for showcasing recent developments in the field. It invites contributions from across the scientific and engineering communities working on the transformation of biomass—whether lignocellulosic, algal, agricultural, or industrial residues—into energy-related (e.g., biofuels, biogas, biodiesel, etc.) and valuable products or increasing their energy content.
The scope of the issue encompasses both well-established processes, such as thermochemical (combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification), biochemical (fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis), and physico-chemical methods, as well as cutting-edge and hybrid technologies, including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, supercritical processing, plasma-assisted conversion, and AI-driven process optimization. Emphasis will also be placed on novel reactor designs, advanced materials (e.g., catalysts, membranes, and sorbents), and integrated biorefinery concepts (for biofuels, biochemicals, or biopower production) that enhance biomass energy utilization and conversion efficiency and enable product diversification.
Contributions are encouraged that explore techno-economic assessments, life cycle analysis, and sustainability metrics to evaluate the environmental and economic feasibility of the proposed technologies. Studies addressing policy frameworks, value chain integration, and cross-sectoral applications—from energy to materials and chemicals—are also welcomed.
This Special Issue seeks to bring together interdisciplinary research that not only advances the scientific and technological frontiers of biomass conversion but also contributes to real-world impact in the context of decarbonization, circular economy, and sustainable development goals. Original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and short communications are all suitable for submission.
Through this Special Issue, Energies aims to highlight both incremental advancements and transformative breakthroughs that are driving the transition to a more sustainable and resilient bio-based economy.
Dr. Javier Fermoso
Guest Editor
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. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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
- biomass energy utilization
- sustainable energy systems
- biorefinery concepts
- sustainable bioeconomy
- catalysis and process engineering
- thermochemical and biochemical processes
- life cycle and techno-economic assessment
- hybrid and emerging conversion technologies
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