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Advances in Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 775

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Prairie Research Institute−Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
Interests: catalysis and conversion process; waste

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global energy transition necessitates innovative solutions to combat climate change, ensure energy security, and achieve carbon neutrality. Bioenergy and bioproducts are central to this shift, offering renewable alternatives to fossil fuels while advancing circular economy principles. Derived from biomass—such as agricultural residues, algae, and organic waste—bioenergy encompasses biofuels, biogas, and bioelectricity, while bioproducts extend to biodegradable plastics, biochemicals, and bio-based materials. These innovations reduce fossil dependency, valorize waste streams, and align with Sustainable Development Goals.

Technological advancements are accelerating progress in this field: novel conversion methods (e.g., catalytic pyrolysis, microbial electrosynthesis), genetically engineered feedstocks, and hybrid systems such as bioenergy with carbon capture (BECCS) enhance efficiency and scalability. Integrated biorefineries exemplify circularity, co-producing energy, chemicals, and materials. However, challenges remain, including sustainable feedstock sourcing, economic viability, and policy gaps. Lifecycle assessments (LCAs) and interdisciplinary collaboration are critical to address ecological trade-offs, optimize supply chains, and align innovations with global sustainability targets.

This Special Issue highlights breakthroughs in bioenergy and bioproducts, emphasizing scalable technologies, sustainability metrics, and socio-economic strategies. By fostering dialogue among researchers, industry, and policymakers, it aims to bridge gaps between innovation and real-world deployment, advancing the transition to a resilient, bio-based economy.

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

  1. Next-Generation Biofuels: Advances in algal biofuel, lignocellulosic ethanol, and waste-derived biodiesel.
  2. Circular Biorefineries: Integrated systems for co-producing energy, chemicals, and materials.
  3. Carbon-Negative Technologies: BECCS, biochar, and microbial carbon sequestration.
  4. AI-Driven Optimization: Machine learning for biomass conversion and supply chain efficiency.
  5. Sustainable Feedstock Innovation: Low-impact crops, agro-residue valorization, and algae cultivation.
  6. Waste-to-Energy Solutions: The anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis of organic/industrial waste.
  7. Bio-Based Materials: Bioplastics, green chemicals, and lignin valorization.
  8. Policy and Market Strategies: Incentives, lifecycle regulations, and global bioeconomy frameworks.

Dr. Ravindra Prajapati
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

  • bioenergy
  • biofuel
  • biorefineries
  • sustainable feedstock
  • waste-to-energy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 1132 KB  
Article
Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Structurally Diverse Lignins: Insights into Biocrude Yield, Fuel Properties, and Reaction Mechanisms
by Md Mostafizur Rahman and Toufiq Reza
Energies 2025, 18(17), 4773; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18174773 - 8 Sep 2025
Viewed by 471
Abstract
Lignin holds significant promise as a feedstock for biocrude production via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Although lignin HTL has been widely studied, the specific depolymerization pathways associated with distinct lignin structures remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the HTL of four structurally diverse lignins: [...] Read more.
Lignin holds significant promise as a feedstock for biocrude production via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Although lignin HTL has been widely studied, the specific depolymerization pathways associated with distinct lignin structures remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the HTL of four structurally diverse lignins: alkaline (AL), dealkaline (DAL), organosolv (OL), and lignosulfonate (LS) across 270–310 °C to elucidate structure-specific mechanisms governing biocrude yield and composition. AL and OL achieved the highest yields (16.8 ± 0.3% and 16.8 ± 2.5%), with AL-derived biocrude showing the highest carbon content (70.2 ± 0.0%) and HHV (31.0 ± 0.2 MJ/kg). In contrast, DAL and LS produced lower yields and inferior fuel quality due to higher sulfur content and lower carbon enrichment. The structures of AL and DAL, containing fewer methoxy groups, produced guaiacol-rich biocrudes (46.6% and 69.5%). Methylation in AL formed alkyl guaiacols and veratroles, while DAL favored side-chain oxidation. OL retained complex structures, forming syringols and desaspidinol, which contributed to heavier biocrude compounds. Sulfonate groups in LS were stabilized mostly as sulfides, leading to elevated sulfur content. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how lignin structure governs HTL behavior, enabling targeted control of biocrude yield and quality for renewable fuel production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation)
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