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Polymers
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Advances in Lignocellulose: Cellulose, Hemicellulose and Lignin
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Advances in Lignocellulose: Cellulose, Hemicellulose and Lignin

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 4455

Editor

Dr. Hui Zhang

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Guest Editor
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, China
Interests: biomass; lignin; cellulose; natural polymers; nano materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lignocellulose is extremely common and widespread in nature. Cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and their derivates play crucial roles across a variety of research areas, including health, biopharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, chemicals, bioplastics, biotechnology, buildings and fuels, among others. This Special Issue invites the research community, with its expertise, passion and commitment to science, to contribute to expanding the boundaries of knowledge by addressing new challenges in the field of lignocellulose conversion and utilization. In particular, we welcome works that propose new lignocellulose-based composites, functional materials or nanotechnologies.

This Special Issue is devoted to the most recent research on these topics, covering all aspects concerning the structural modification and application of lignocellulose. Both original contributions and comprehensive reviews are welcome.

Dr. Hui Zhang
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 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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers 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

  • structural modification
  • structural characterization
  • biomaterials
  • biopharmaceuticals
  • drug delivery
  • bioplastics
  • biosensors
  • flexible and wearable devices

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1395 KB  
Article
Bioethanol from Miscanthus × giganteus: A Comparative Study of Different Pretreatment Technologies
by Ekaterina A. Skiba, Ekaterina I. Kashcheyeva, Vladimir N. Zolotukhin, Galina F. Mironova and Vera V. Budaeva
Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1551; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121551 - 22 Jun 2026
Viewed by 509
Abstract
Second-generation bioethanol technology is based on renewable raw materials with an unlimited potential for replenishment. However, the production cost of second-generation bioethanol is still higher than that of the first-generation. Biomass pretreatment is a key challenge, and solving it will improve the technology [...] Read more.
Second-generation bioethanol technology is based on renewable raw materials with an unlimited potential for replenishment. However, the production cost of second-generation bioethanol is still higher than that of the first-generation. Biomass pretreatment is a key challenge, and solving it will improve the technology efficiency. In this study, Miscanthus × giganteus from the Russian breeding stock was subjected to pretreatments with dilute HNO3 under atmospheric pressure. Pretreatments were carried out either as a single stage (HNO3) or as two stages ((i) HNO3 followed by NaOH, and (ii) NaOH followed by HNO3). Classical delignification with NaOH was also performed for comparison. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with delayed inoculation (dSSF) was then performed under identical conditions, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y-3136 as the microbial producer. Two-stage pretreatments were found to excel in purity, pulp composition, pulp conversion, bioethanol yield during fermentation, and raw bioethanol purity (impurities decreased by a factor of 21 compared to NaOH delignification). However, fermentation indicators are not the only critical aspect in bioethanol production technology. The complete cycle from Miscanthus × giganteus feedstock to the target bioethanol product was evaluated. The single-stage pretreatment with HNO3 performed best among the tested conditions. The HNO3 pretreatment achieved a 50% yield of pulps and a maximal bioethanol yield of 267 L/t, which is 44% higher compared to NaOH delignification. Furthermore, the HNO3 pretreatment enables savings in resources and electric power, as well as full commercial utilization of all polymers of the lignocellulosic matrix of the feedstock. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lignocellulose: Cellulose, Hemicellulose and Lignin)
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22 pages, 4427 KB  
Article
Chemical Characterization of Alkali Lignins Isolated from Rapeseed Stalks
by Bogdan-Marian Tofanica, Elena Ungureanu, Emanuela Callone, Adrian-Catalin Puitel, Costel Samuil, Ovidiu C. Ungureanu, Maria E. Fortuna and Valentin I. Popa
Polymers 2026, 18(4), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18040494 - 16 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1050
Abstract
Rapeseed stalks (Brassica napus), an abundant agricultural residue, represent a promising non-woody raw material for the pulp and paper industry. This study focuses on the chemical and structural characterization of alkali lignins isolated from black liquors generated by two common delignification [...] Read more.
Rapeseed stalks (Brassica napus), an abundant agricultural residue, represent a promising non-woody raw material for the pulp and paper industry. This study focuses on the chemical and structural characterization of alkali lignins isolated from black liquors generated by two common delignification methods: Kraft and Soda-Anthraquinone Pulping of rapeseed stalks. The objective is to understand how the chemical environment of each process influences the final structure, fragmentation degree, and reactivity of the isolated lignin. In practice, lignin samples are recovered from black liquors produced under varying conditions (alkali charge, time, and temperature) to achieve defined levels of delignification. Detailed characterization was performed using advanced analytical techniques, including Gel Permeation Chromatography, Solid-State Cross-Polarization/Magic-Angle-Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and FT-IR and UV-Vis Spectroscopy. The findings provide essential data on the structural differences, confirming the suitability of the resulting materials for potential high-value applications. Furthermore, the structural similarities and performance indicators suggest that the Soda-AQ process enables successful delignification of rapeseed stalks without the sulfur emission issues associated with the Kraft method, thus validating the former as an environmentally cleaner alternative for non-wood biomass utilization supporting the complete valorization of rapeseed agricultural waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lignocellulose: Cellulose, Hemicellulose and Lignin)
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14 pages, 13989 KB  
Article
Facile Preparation of a Cellulose-Based Thermoresponsive Gel for Rapid Water Harvesting from the Atmosphere
by Xiaoyu Wang, Hui Zhang, Xinxin Liu, Jie Du and Yingguang Xu
Polymers 2025, 17(16), 2253; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17162253 - 20 Aug 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2286
Abstract
Atmospheric water harvesting, as an emerging water collection technology, is expected to mitigate water resource crises. Adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting technology offers distinct advantages, including geographical independence and reduced reliance on ambient humidity levels. Herein, a thermoresponsive gel (PNIPAM/TO-CNF) integrated with lithium chloride [...] Read more.
Atmospheric water harvesting, as an emerging water collection technology, is expected to mitigate water resource crises. Adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting technology offers distinct advantages, including geographical independence and reduced reliance on ambient humidity levels. Herein, a thermoresponsive gel (PNIPAM/TO-CNF) integrated with lithium chloride was constructed to achieve accelerated moisture sorption and rapid desorption capabilities. In the designated PNIPAM/TO-CNF/LiCl gel, PNIPAM provided a temperature-responsive hydrophilic–hydrophobic transition network; the hydrophilicity and structural strength were enhanced by TO-CNF, the moisture absorption capacity was dramatically elevated by hygroscopic salt LiCl, and pore-forming agent polyethylene glycol created a favorable porous structure. This synergistic design endows the gel with an optimized hydrophilic network, temperature-responsive behavior, and a porous architecture conducive to water vapor transportation, thereby achieving rapid moisture absorption and desorption. Under 60% relative humidity, the gel exhibited a water vapor adsorption capacity of 144% within 1 h, reaching its maximum absorption capacity of 178% after 140 min. The gel exhibited an even more superior desorption performance: when heated to 70 °C, its moisture content rapidly decreased to 16% of its initial weight within 1 h, corresponding to the desorption of 91% of the total absorbed water. A simplified pore-forming methodology that enables the integration of temperature-responsive properties with efficient moisture transfer channels was reported in this paper, providing a viable design pathway for achieving accelerated adsorption–desorption cycles in atmospheric water harvesting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Lignocellulose: Cellulose, Hemicellulose and Lignin)
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