Lignocellulosic Materials: From Fractionation to Multifunctional Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Lignocellulosic-based materials are composed of natural polymers such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Although technically used as synonyms, lignocellulosic-based materials result from the processing of lignocellulosic biomass, highlighting the distinction between the terms. Taking into account their origin, they retain their renewable character, as they result from plants' metabolic processes and are regarded as the most abundant category of biomass. As a consequence, they are both regarded as the only sustainable option for the replacement of fossil fuels. The conversion of this biomass into high-value materials and chemicals is central to the emerging bioeconomy. Other features of both lignocellulosic biomass and lignocellulosic-based material include heterogeneity, structural diversity, variability in chemical composition, and, to some extent, recalcitrance.

There are, however, several reasons why their processing and valorization may be regarded as challenging. In brief, the selective separation of the three aforementioned fractions is the primary frustration of lignocellulosic biorefineries. Research efforts are continuously targeting the discovery of the particular, specific, and optimal conditions for the separation of the raw material components, but are also looking into adding value to all separated components. The most well-known approaches for the separation of both major and minor components in biomass include physical, chemical, and biochemical treatment options available as a single option or in combination.

The integrated biorefinery concept addresses issues concerning the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into several valuable products. Cellulose fibers are raw materials for the production of a wide range of products: paper, bioplastics, and nano- and micro-fibrillated cellulose. Hemicelluloses, as the second most abundant polymeric carbohydrates, are suitable raw materials for biodegradable packaging materials, nutraceuticals, probiotics, medicines, sugars, fine organic chemicals, and biofuels. Lignin is a candidate for the production of polymeric derivatives, carbon fibers, low molecular weight phenolics, adhesives, carbon nanofibers, bio-oils, biofuels, and bio-protection agents.

Today, the term lignocellulosic-based polymeric materials may refer to both naturally occurring natural polymer-based bioresources, such as wood, straw, stalks, and other raw biomass types, and some of the products resulting from their processing. This Polymers Special Issue intends to cover subjects concerning the characterization of lignocellulosic materials, as well as the processing and applications of the obtained products. The knowledge base in the field is constantly evolving, and ongoing research addressing challenges related to biomass recalcitrance, process integration, economic feasibility, and environmental compatibility has become critical.

Dr. Adrian Catalin Puitel
Dr. Florin Ciolacu
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-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.