molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Nanomaterials for Catalytic Upcycling/Conversion of Plastics/Biomass

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 1401

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center of Nano Science and Technology, College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Interests: catalytic oxidation; oxi-upcycling of plastics; photodeposition

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: catalyst development; heterogeneous catalytic reaction processes; in situ characterization; catalyst industrialization

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: micro-nano materials; biomass-based functional materials; molecular structure characterization; biomass polymer composite

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Given the immense pressure from carbon dioxide emissions and the enormous demand for resources and energy, converting biomass and waste plastics into high-value chemicals such as fuels and other chemicals is of great significance for reducing carbon emissions, optimizing carbon resource cycling, and promoting sustainable development. Nanomaterials play a crucial role in the catalytic conversion of biomass and plastics, and the design of efficient catalysts is key to achieving highly efficient and highly selective conversions. This has attracted widespread attention in academia and has led to significant progress.

This Special Issue aims to provide a broad survey of the most recent advances in the developed nanomaterials for catalytic upcycling/conversion of plastics/biomass. Original research articles or reviews that discuss the design and fabrication of effective catalysts for the conversion of plastics/biomass, the process research, the structure-activity effect, the mechanism in catalysis, and the applications of products in different fields are welcome.

Dr. Lei Huang
Prof. Dr. Xiang Wang
Prof. Dr. Zhili Li
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. Molecules 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 2700 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

  • plastic waste
  • upcycling
  • conversion
  • biomass conversion
  • biomass upgrading
  • lignin depolymerization
  • nanocatalysis
  • thermal catalysis

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.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

20 pages, 3579 KiB  
Review
Rigid Polyurethane Foam Derived from Renewable Sources: Research Progress, Property Enhancement, and Future Prospects
by Yao Yuan, Qinhe Guo, Lulu Xu and Wei Wang
Molecules 2025, 30(3), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30030678 - 4 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1150
Abstract
Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is a widely utilized thermosetting polymer across various industrial applications, valued for its exceptional properties. However, the demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers has grown increasingly urgent due to rising environmental concerns. Despite its widespread use, RPUF faces [...] Read more.
Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is a widely utilized thermosetting polymer across various industrial applications, valued for its exceptional properties. However, the demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers has grown increasingly urgent due to rising environmental concerns. Despite its widespread use, RPUF faces challenges such as inadequate mechanical strength, limited thermal stability, and high flammability, all of which are crucial considerations in commercial and household applications. Globally, ongoing efforts are focused on developing innovative technologies that convert renewable sources into new monomers and polymers, some of which could serve as alternatives to traditional RPUFs. Several approaches have been explored to improve the thermal stability, mechanical strength, and flame retardancy of RPUFs, including the modification of bio-based polyols and the incorporation of performance-enhancing fillers. This review emphasizes recent advances in RPUFs derived from natural resources, focusing on their preparation, characterization, and properties, and strategies to enhance the mechanical strength and flame safety of bio-based RPUFs. Additionally, it explores the applications of RPUF materials across various fields, addressing the challenges and potential developments in packaging, household items, construction, and automotive applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalytic Upcycling/Conversion of Plastics/Biomass)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop