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Advanced Bioenergy, Biomass and Waste Conversion Technologies: 2nd Edition
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Advanced Bioenergy, Biomass and Waste Conversion Technologies: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1504

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Małgorzata Sieradzka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Thermal Technology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Metal Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Interests: bioenergy; biomass; waste; gasification; catalysts; catalytic gasification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change and the increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions, coupled with rapid urbanization and the depletion of exhaustible natural resources, are pressing global concerns. Addressing these challenges requires decisive action to meet resource demands while ensuring environmental protection, reducing emissions, and minimizing waste generation.

To achieve energy independence from fossil fuels and fulfill the European Union’s targets for renewable energy adoption and greenhouse gas reduction, significant advancements are necessary. The thermal processing of biomass and waste-derived fuels presents a promising solution to these needs.

Biomass has played a crucial role as a renewable energy source, contributing to lower or even negative CO2 emissions and increasing the share of renewables in global energy consumption. Additionally, refuse-derived fuel offers notable advantages when properly processed and utilized. However, compared to fossil fuels, the energy density of biomass and waste fuels remains relatively low, necessitating further research and technological improvements.

This Special Issue (second edition) aims to showcase recent advances in bioenergy production through biomass and waste conversion, encompassing pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction, torrefaction, hydrothermal carbonization, direct combustion, and co-combustion. Furthermore, it highlights the utilization and valorization of by-products and residues from these processes in alignment with circular economy principles.

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

  • Advanced methods for biomass and waste-to-energy conversion;
  • The optimization of pyrolysis, gasification, and liquefaction processes;
  • Innovations in torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization;
  • Co-combustion strategies for enhanced energy recovery;
  • The utilization and valorization of process residues and by-products;
  • Environmental impact assessments and sustainability analyses;
  • Techno-economic evaluations of bioenergy systems;
  • Life cycle assessment and circular economy approaches.

We welcome original research articles, experimental and numerical studies, and comprehensive review papers summarizing the state of the art in these fields.

Dr. Małgorzata Sieradzka
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
  • char
  • refuse-derived fuel
  • waste management
  • circular economy
  • bioenergy
  • fuel characterization
  • sustainability
  • waste valorization
  • energy recovery
  • thermal conversion
  • torrefaction
  • pyrolysis
  • gasification
  • hydrothermal carbonization
  • combustion

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1023 KB  
Article
Hydrothermal Treatment of Kitchen Waste as a Strategy for Dark Fermentation Biohydrogen Production
by Marlena Domińska, Katarzyna Paździor, Radosław Ślęzak and Stanisław Ledakowicz
Energies 2025, 18(21), 5811; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18215811 - 4 Nov 2025
Viewed by 182
Abstract
This study presents an innovative approach to the production of hydrogen from liquids following hydrothermal treatment of biowaste, offering a potential solution for renewable energy generation and waste management. By combining biological and hydrothermal processes, the efficiency of H2 production can be [...] Read more.
This study presents an innovative approach to the production of hydrogen from liquids following hydrothermal treatment of biowaste, offering a potential solution for renewable energy generation and waste management. By combining biological and hydrothermal processes, the efficiency of H2 production can be significantly improved, contributing to a reduced carbon footprint and lower reliance on fossil fuels. The inoculum used was fermented sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, which had been thermally pretreated to enhance microbial activity towards hydrogen production. Kitchen waste, consisting mainly of plant-derived materials (vegetable matter), was used as a substrate. The process was conducted in batch 1-L bioreactors. The results showed that higher pretreatment temperatures (up to 180 °C) increased the hydrolysis of compounds and enhanced H2 production. However, temperatures above 180 °C resulted in the formation of toxic compounds, such as catechol and hydroquinone, which inhibited H2 production. The highest hydrogen production was achieved at 180 °C (approximately 66 mL H2/gTVSKW). The standard Gompertz model was applied to describe the process kinetics and demonstrated an excellent fit with the experimental data (R2 = 0.99), confirming the model’s suitability for optimizing H2 production. This work highlights the potential of combining hydrothermal and biological processes to contribute to the development of sustainable energy systems within the circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy, Biomass and Waste Conversion Technologies: 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1292 KB  
Article
Assessment of the Energy Parameters of Pedicels and Pomace of Selected Grapevine Varieties from the PIWI Group
by Magdalena Kapłan, Kamila E. Klimek, Grzegorz Maj, Kamil Buczyński and Anna Borkowska
Energies 2025, 18(20), 5444; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205444 - 15 Oct 2025
Viewed by 299
Abstract
In view of the growing challenges related to energy transition and the need to implement circular economy principles, the use of waste from the wine industry as bioenergy raw materials is becoming increasingly important. The aim of the study was to assess the [...] Read more.
In view of the growing challenges related to energy transition and the need to implement circular economy principles, the use of waste from the wine industry as bioenergy raw materials is becoming increasingly important. The aim of the study was to assess the energy potential of biomass in the form of grape stems and pomace from four varieties (PIWI)—Hibernal, Muscaris, Regent and Seyval Blanc—grown in south-eastern Poland. The analyses included the determination of technical and elementary parameters, pollutant emission indicators and exhaust gas composition parameters. The pomace was characterised by a higher calorific value, higher carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) content and lower dust emissions compared to the stems, but with higher carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Stems had a higher ash content, which may limit their energy use. The Hibernal variety achieved the highest calorific values at low moisture and low sulphur content, while Muscaris was characterised by increased nitrogen and sulphur content and higher sulphur dioxide emissions (SO2) and dust emissions. The Regent variety showed relatively high nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions. Cluster analysis confirmed the diversity of varieties in terms of energy potential and waste biomass quantity. The results indicate that waste from PIWI grapevine cultivation can be a valuable local raw material for renewable energy production, contributing to waste reduction and greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector, but its suitability depends on the variety and type of biomass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy, Biomass and Waste Conversion Technologies: 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 1366 KB  
Article
The Influence of Vine Rootstock Type on the Energy Potential of Differentiated Material Obtained from Wine Production
by Kamila E. Klimek, Magdalena Kapłan, Grzegorz Maj, Anna Borkowska and Kamil Buczyński
Energies 2025, 18(19), 5062; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18195062 - 23 Sep 2025
Viewed by 249
Abstract
In the context of growing demand for renewable energy sources and greenhouse gas emission reductions, increasing attention is being paid to the use of agricultural waste as bioenergy feedstock. The energy potential of biomass in the form of vine stems and pomace from [...] Read more.
In the context of growing demand for renewable energy sources and greenhouse gas emission reductions, increasing attention is being paid to the use of agricultural waste as bioenergy feedstock. The energy potential of biomass in the form of vine stems and pomace from the Regent variety of grapes, grafted onto their own roots and various types of rootstocks (125AA, SO4, 161-49), was assessed, where the control group consisted of ungrafted shrubs growing on their own roots, cultivated in south-eastern Poland. The analyses included the determination of technical and elementary parameters, pollutant emission indicators, and exhaust gas composition parameters. Compared to stems, pomace had a higher calorific value, higher C and H content, and lower dust emissions, while at the same time emitting more CO2. Stems, on the other hand, showed higher ash content and higher dust emissions, which may limit their energy potential. Among the analysed substrates, pomace from 125AA achieved the highest calorific values at a low moisture content, while biomass from substrate 161-49 was distinguished by the lowest sulphur content and a favourable emission balance. Cluster analysis showed clear grouping of substrates in terms of fuel and emission parameters, indicating the possibility of optimal substrate selection for the production of bioenergy feedstock. The results confirm that the appropriate selection of rootstocks in viticulture can significantly increase the energy value of waste biomass and reduce emissions, supporting the development of local renewable energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy, Biomass and Waste Conversion Technologies: 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 1537 KB  
Article
Impact of Demineralization on Various Types of Biomass Pyrolysis: Behavior, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics
by Shaoying Shen, Jianping Li, Yuanen Lai, Rui Zhang, Honggang Fan, Wei Zhao, Feng Shen, Yuanjia Zhang and Weiqiang Zhu
Energies 2025, 18(16), 4289; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18164289 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 498
Abstract
This study systematically investigates the effects of demineralization on the pyrolysis characteristics, kinetics, and thermodynamics of three biomass types (eucalyptus, straw, and miscanthus) using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) combined with multiple kinetic approaches. The Coats–Redfern integral model was employed to determine the reaction mechanisms. [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigates the effects of demineralization on the pyrolysis characteristics, kinetics, and thermodynamics of three biomass types (eucalyptus, straw, and miscanthus) using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) combined with multiple kinetic approaches. The Coats–Redfern integral model was employed to determine the reaction mechanisms. The results indicate that the primary weight-loss temperature ranges for eucalyptus, straw, and miscanthus were 222.02~500.23 °C, 205.43~500.13 °C, and 202.30~490.52 °C, respectively. Demineralization increased the initial pyrolysis temperature and significantly enhanced the reaction rates. Kinetics analysis revealed that the ash content significantly influences the activation energy of the pyrolysis reaction. The average activation energies follow the trend eucalyptus (193.48 kJ/mol) < miscanthus (245.66 kJ/mol) < straw (290.13 kJ/mol). After demineralization, the activation energies of both straw and miscanthus pyrolysis decreased, with the largest reduction observed in straw, which dropped by 77.53 kJ/mol. However, the activation energy for eucalyptus pyrolysis increased by 12.52 kJ/mol after demineralization. The Coats–Redfern model and thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that each type of biomass followed distinct reaction mechanisms at different stages, which were altered after demineralization. Additionally, demineralization leads to higher ΔH and Gibbs free energy ΔG for eucalyptus, but lower values for straw and miscanthus, which indicate that the ash content has a significant impact on the biomass pyrolysis reaction. These findings provide fundamental insights into the role of ash in biomass pyrolysis kinetics and offer theoretical support for the design of pyrolysis reactors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Bioenergy, Biomass and Waste Conversion Technologies: 2nd Edition)
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