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Processes
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Conversion and Valorization of Biomass
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Conversion and Valorization of Biomass

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Green Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 1987

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. David Ulises Santos Ballardo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ecotoxicology and Bioprocesses, Research Center for Food and Development (CIAD), Av. Sábalo Cerritos s/n Estero del Yugo, A.P. 711, Mazatlán 82000, Sinaloa, Mexico
Interests: biomass valorization; bioprocesses; biorefinery; circular economy; microalgae biomass
Prof. Dr. Miguel Betancourt-Lozano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ecotoxicology and Bioprocesses, Research Center for Food and Development (CIAD), Av. Sábalo Cerritos s/n Estero del Yugo, A.P. 711, Mazatlán 82000, Sinaloa, Mexico
Interests: ecotoxicology; bioprocesses; circular economy
Dr. Raquel Barrena

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Composting Research Group, Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Escola d’Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
Interests: composting; biogas; fermentations; nanotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomass represents a renewable and diverse source of valuable products, including organic matter from plants, animals, and microorganisms. In addition, the versatility of biomass allows its application in strategic sectors such as the production of bioenergy, bioproducts, biochemicals, innovative materials, functional additives, and nanomaterials and development of biorefineries. Moreover, biomass valorization offers a multidisciplinary approach (focused on sustainability and circular economy) to addressing the most demanding global challenges, including waste management, climate change, and sustainable development.

Therefore, efficient and viable biomass conversion and valorization are of increasing interest for research and industry globally. This Special Issue aims to gather innovative research exploring diverse conversion technologies, applications of biomass-derived products (energetics and non-energetics applications), waste valorization, and emerging biorefinery concepts linked to sustainability and a circular economy.

Key topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Biomass Feedstocks and Characterization:
  • Alternative biomass sources;
  • Biomass waste valorization;
  • Pre-treatments and characterization of biomass.
  1. Conversion Technologies:
  • Thermochemical conversion;
  • Biochemical conversion;
  • Catalytic conversion;
  • Hydrothermal processing;
  • Emerging technologies.
  1. Biomass applications (including waste):
  • Fuels;
  • Chemicals;
  • Biomaterials;
  • Innovative applications.
  1. Biorefinery Concepts:
  • Integrated biorefineries;
  • Bio-based products;
  • Sustainable biorefinery approaches.
  1. Sustainability and Environmental Impact:
  • Life cycle assessment;
  • Green processes;
  • Circular economy.

This Special Issue offers a platform for researchers and experts studying technical, economic, and environmental challenges where biomass is developing a key role. We invite the scientific community to publish their original research articles, short communications, study cases, and review articles in this field. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. David Ulises Santos Ballardo
Prof. Dr. Miguel Betancourt-Lozano
Dr. Raquel Barrena
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. Processes 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 2400 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

  • biomass
  • bioenergy
  • biofuels
  • bioproducts
  • biochemicals
  • biorefinery
  • conversion process
  • life cycle analysis
  • green chemistry
  • waste valorisation

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3409 KB  
Article
Engineering Spirulina-Based Composites and Postbiotics Using the Electrospinning Process: Physicochemical Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity
by Sergiana dos Passos Ramos, Monize Bürck, Eduarda Lemos, Giovanna Grasser, Marcelo Assis, Camila Duarte Ferreira Ribeiro, Elson Longo and Anna Rafaela Cavalcante Braga
Processes 2026, 14(2), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14020296 - 14 Jan 2026
Viewed by 333
Abstract
Postbiotics, defined as non-viable microorganisms or their structural and metabolic components, have attracted attention for their documented health effects, including modulation of gut homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Tributyrin is among the most promising postbiotics studied, and its safety profile enables it to exert [...] Read more.
Postbiotics, defined as non-viable microorganisms or their structural and metabolic components, have attracted attention for their documented health effects, including modulation of gut homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Tributyrin is among the most promising postbiotics studied, and its safety profile enables it to exert its beneficial effects. However, tributyrin activity must be maintained after its uptake, underscoring the importance of selecting appropriate delivery strategies, such as its incorporation into electrospun composites. Combining postbiotics and natural antioxidants, such as Spirulina and its components, to improve their properties can be a great strategy. Therefore, the present work aimed to produce tributyrin–Spirulina composites via electrospinning. The composites obtained were characterized, and their antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity were determined. All formulations were successfully produced by electrospinning, as the composites retained the bonds of their respective components. In terms of antioxidant activity, the combination of tributyrin and C-phycocyanin was the most promising among the bioactive compounds studied. Overall, the viability and cytotoxicity results indicate that interactions among bioactive composition, redox regulation, and adhesion-dependent survival govern cellular responses to electrospun zein fibers. Tributyrin promotes metabolic adaptation over time, whereas Spirulina-derived fractions are more sensitive to formulation and culture conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conversion and Valorization of Biomass)
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28 pages, 5552 KB  
Article
Spirulina-Incorporated Biopolymer Films for Antioxidant Food Packaging
by Monica Masako Nakamoto, Josemar Gonçalves Oliveira-Filho, Marcelo Assis and Anna Rafaela Cavalcante Braga
Processes 2025, 13(12), 4037; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13124037 - 13 Dec 2025
Viewed by 551
Abstract
Growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable materials have accelerated the search for biodegradable alternatives to food packaging. Since nearly half of global plastic production is dedicated to food packaging, and less than 5% is recyclable, developing eco-friendly solutions is urgent. Biopolymeric [...] Read more.
Growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable materials have accelerated the search for biodegradable alternatives to food packaging. Since nearly half of global plastic production is dedicated to food packaging, and less than 5% is recyclable, developing eco-friendly solutions is urgent. Biopolymeric films enriched with microalgae and cyanobacteria have emerged as promising options due to their bioactive properties. This study screened 38 film-forming formulations combining different biopolymers with varying concentrations of Spirulina (0–5%) to identify the most suitable candidates based on physical and visual characteristics. Films produced with pectin and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) matrices were selected for detailed characterization, including physicochemical, optical, mechanical, thermal, barrier, surface, and functional group analyses, as well as antioxidant activity. The highest elongation at break (%) was observed in the control HPMC film (16.5 ± 3.85), whereas the lowest value was recorded for the pectin film containing 1% Spirulina (2.75 ± 0.49). In parallel, the highest thickness (mm) was found in the pectin film with 5% Spirulina (0.153 ± 0.018), while the lowest thickness occurred in the HPMC film incorporating 1% biomass (0.076 ± 0.004). The incorporation of Spirulina decreased solubility and moisture content while increasing opacity. HPMC-based films demonstrated superior mechanical strength, thermal stability, barrier performance, and significantly higher antioxidant activity compared to pectin films. Antioxidant activity increased with biomass concentration, peaking at 5% (HPMC: 320.08 ± 35.7 µmol TE/g; pectin: 36.92 ± 7.63 µmol TE/g). Overall, the HPMC film containing 1% Spirulina showed the best balance of properties, including mechanical behavior and antioxidant performance, indicating strong potential for food packaging applications, particularly for protecting light-sensitive and oxidation-prone foods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conversion and Valorization of Biomass)
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Review

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26 pages, 1615 KB  
Review
A Systematic Review of Lignocellulosic Fibers Modification Techniques; Enhancing Selective Adsorption–Desorption of Textile Dyes
by Bosco Barnabas Mtweve, Muthumuni Managa, Tlou Nathaniel Moja and Mukuna Patrick Mubiayi
Processes 2026, 14(4), 710; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14040710 - 20 Feb 2026
Viewed by 283
Abstract
Climate change and water pollution are the global focus to address the mitigation measures that will improve water quality and wastewater management. The recent increase in dye pollution from the manufacturing sector, particularly the textile industries, has increased the demand for advanced wastewater [...] Read more.
Climate change and water pollution are the global focus to address the mitigation measures that will improve water quality and wastewater management. The recent increase in dye pollution from the manufacturing sector, particularly the textile industries, has increased the demand for advanced wastewater treatment technologies that are sustainable and affordable. The abundant, renewable lignocellulosic fiber-based adsorbents have emerged as a promising alternative for removing a wide range of heavy metals and dyes. This review highlights in detail various sources of fibers, their physicochemical compositions, and different modification techniques that improve their selectivity and adsorption capacity, particularly for dye removal. The complementary impacts of the presence of the inherent functional groups, specific surface charges, and the primary adsorption mechanisms that can significantly enhance dye selectivity have been well addressed. While the modified fibers demonstrated the promising removal efficiency of above 90% at the laboratory scale, challenges remain in terms of their adsorption kinetics, regeneration efficiency, and long-term stability for large-scale industrial settings. Hence, future studies should focus on enhancing fiber properties for sustainable industrial applications, high-performance, and multifunctionality through a promising hybrid modification technique that will bridge the gap into large industrial implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conversion and Valorization of Biomass)
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