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Lignocellulosic Materials, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 3476

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
2. FSCN, Surface and Colloid Engineering, Mid Sweden University, SE-851 70 Sundsvall, Sweden
Interests: rheology; biopolymers; biomaterials; colloids; lignocellulose; polyphenol dissolution and extraction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
MED–Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Algarve, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Interests: biopolymers; biomaterials; colloids; lignocellulose; bacterial cellulose; polyphenol extraction; microbiology; pollutant removal

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lignocellulosic materials are among the most promising feedstocks and have attracted the interest of numerous researchers due to their availability and appealing properties. In fact, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, suberin, and the low-molecular-weight components found in lignocellulose sources can be valorized and applied to a wide range of novel products targeting different application sectors. This Special Issue, “Lignocellulosic Materials, 2nd Edition”, is focused on the most recent advances regarding the viability and feasibility of using lignocellulosic materials as a sustainable feedstock. We welcome different research works, review documents, and communications that cover the inherent fundamental concepts, current challenges, and strategies on lignocellulose biomass valorization and conversion to high-value materials, including chemical approaches to enhance the material properties, such as compatibility or as micro/nano reinforcements in bio-based composites. Furthermore, advances in lignocellulose-based blends, life cycle assessment studies, hydrogels, and scaffolds enabling products with superior performance, as well as lower cost or greenhouse emission reduction targeting specific industrial sectors (e.g., packaging, automobiles, transportation, cosmetics, and biomedicine) are also welcomed.

Dr. Bruno Medronho
Dr. Hugo Duarte
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biomass valorization
  • biopolymers
  • lignocellulose
  • green chemistry
  • bio-based materials
  • environmental remediation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1908 KB  
Article
Research on Improving Pretreatment Process of Banana Fiber Fabric with Rare Earth
by Jie Liu, Wenqi Jiang, Chun Lv, Lingfang Sun and Yongjie Zheng
Molecules 2025, 30(23), 4535; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234535 - 24 Nov 2025
Viewed by 314
Abstract
Scouring and bleaching processes of banana fiber fabric based on rare earth complex Lanthanum sesquioxide (La2O3) pretreatment were studied. The effects of rare earth content, hydrogen peroxide concentration, sodium hydroxide concentration, temperature, time, and stabilizer concentration on the weight [...] Read more.
Scouring and bleaching processes of banana fiber fabric based on rare earth complex Lanthanum sesquioxide (La2O3) pretreatment were studied. The effects of rare earth content, hydrogen peroxide concentration, sodium hydroxide concentration, temperature, time, and stabilizer concentration on the weight loss ratio, whiteness, capillary effect, and breaking strength of the banana fiber fabric were analyzed. The optimized process was determined by an orthogonal test, namely, the rare earth Lanthanum sesquioxide (La2O3) 0.25% o.w.f., sodium hydroxide 4.5 g/L, hydrogen peroxide concentration 7.5 g/L, the stabilizer 3 g/L, processed 60 min at 75 °C. Through infrared spectroscopy (IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry (TG), and other analysis, it was proven that the rare earth pretreatment process did not change the molecular structure of the cellulose and had little effect on the fabric thermal stability. The fabric obtained by the rare earth pretreatment process has high whiteness, high breaking strength, less damage to the fiber, good fiber wettability, a high capillary effect, and good handle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignocellulosic Materials, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1364 KB  
Article
Enhancing Cellulose and Lignin Fractionation from Acacia Wood: Optimized Parameters Using a Deep Eutectic Solvent System and Solvent Recovery
by Solange Magalhães, María José Aliaño-González, Mariana Rodrigues, Catarina Fernandes, Cátia V. T. Mendes, Maria Graça V. S. Carvalho, Luís Alves, Bruno Medronho and Maria da Graça Rasteiro
Molecules 2024, 29(15), 3495; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29153495 - 25 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2624
Abstract
Cellulose and lignin, sourced from biomass, hold potential for innovative bioprocesses and biomaterials. However, traditional fractionation and purification methods often rely on harmful chemicals and high temperatures, making these processes both hazardous and costly. This study introduces a sustainable approach for fractionating acacia [...] Read more.
Cellulose and lignin, sourced from biomass, hold potential for innovative bioprocesses and biomaterials. However, traditional fractionation and purification methods often rely on harmful chemicals and high temperatures, making these processes both hazardous and costly. This study introduces a sustainable approach for fractionating acacia wood, focusing on both cellulose and lignin extraction using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and levulinic acid (LA). A design of experiment was employed for the optimization of the most relevant fractionation parameters: time and temperature. In the case of the lignin, both parameters were found to be significant variables in the fractionation process (p-values of 0.0128 and 0.0319 for time and temperature, respectively), with a positive influence. Likewise, in the cellulose case, time and temperature also demonstrated a positive effect, with p-values of 0.0103 and 0.028, respectively. An optimization study was finally conducted to determine the maximum fractionation yield of lignin and cellulose. The optimized conditions were found to be 15% (w/v) of the wood sample in 1:3 ChCl:LA under a treatment temperature of 160 °C for 8 h. The developed method was validated through repeatability and intermediate precision studies, which yielded a coefficient of variation lower than 5%. The recovery and reuse of DES were successfully evaluated, revealing remarkable fractionation yields even after five cycles. This work demonstrates the feasibility of selectively extracting lignin and cellulose from woody biomass using a sustainable solvent, thus paving the way for valorization of invasive species biomass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignocellulosic Materials, 2nd Edition)
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