Optimization of Process Methodology for Specialty and Fine Chemicals
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biomaterial applications; applied organic chemistry; processes optimization; chemical technology; process development; process engineering; chemical processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: surfactants; surface chemistry; fined chemistry; modification; optimization; chemical technology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the upcoming Special Issue of Molecules entitled “Optimization of Process Methodology for Specialty and Fine Chemicals”.
The specialty and fine chemicals sectors continue to evolve rapidly in response to growing global demand for high‑value chemical entities, including pharmaceutical intermediates, functional materials, agrochemical components, and performance‑driven formulations. As these industries shift toward more flexible, efficient, and sustainable production paradigms, the optimization of chemical processes has become increasingly critical. This Special Issue of Molecules aims to highlight recent advances, emerging methodologies, and innovative strategies that support the next generation of specialty and fine chemical manufacturing.
This Special Issue seeks to assemble high‑quality original research articles and comprehensive reviews that advance contemporary methodologies for the optimization of chemical processes within these sectors. Emphasis is placed on approaches that enhance process efficiency, sustainability, scalability, and technological innovation. Submissions are encouraged that address the rational design and refinement of unit operations for small‑scale, high‑precision manufacturing; the development and optimization of formulations with tailored physicochemical or functional properties; and the integration of renewable, biomass‑derived, or otherwise sustainable feedstocks into fine‑chemical production pathways.
We particularly welcome contributions focusing on model‑based and data‑driven optimization, digitalization and automation of process control, green chemistry approaches, and methodologies, aimed at reducing energy consumption, waste generation, or environmental impact.
Studies that explore the implementation of advanced analytical tools, process monitoring technologies, or computational frameworks to support decision‑making and process intensification are also of strong interest.
We welcome contributions covering, but not limited to:
- Process intensification and advanced reactor technologies;
- Reaction and separation optimization;
- Design of experiments (DoE) and statistical process design;
- Unit and process operations for fine and specialty chemicals;
- Catalytic and non‑catalytic methodologies;
- Green chemistry and sustainable process development
- Data‑driven, modeling‑assisted, or hybrid optimization strategies;
- Digitalization, automation, and smart manufacturing concepts.
The Special Issue seeks to provide a platform for both fundamental insights and applied solutions relevant to academia and industry. Contributions that bridge scientific innovation with practical implementation are especially encouraged.
Dr. Sebastian Balicki
Dr. Łukasz Lamch
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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
- process optimization
- specialty and fine chemicals
- process intensification
- numerical and statistical optimization
- design of experiments
- green and sustainable chemistry
- chemical engineering
- data driven and model-based process design
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