Novel Sustainable Processes with Low Environmental Impact Solvents in Biorefining and Chemical Industry

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2024) | Viewed by 1155

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Unit, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: green chemistry; green solvents; waste valorization; biorefinery; biomass conversion; biofuel production; bio-based products; environmental science

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Unit, CIEMAT, Av. Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: environmental analytical chemistry; green chemistry; waste valorization; biomass conversion; bio-based products fermentation technology; biorefinery; renewable energy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the 21st century, the chemical industry faces significant challenges, particularly the environmental impact and resource accessibility. Addressing these issues requires a shift towards sustainable bio-resources and bio-refineries. Green chemistry emerges as a fundamental strategy to minimize the environmental impact by converting biological resources into products, promoting sustainability and waste reduction. Full implementation of green chemistry hinges on employing low environmental impact solvents. This involves adopting emerging solvents such as ionic liquids, eutectic solvents, water, biomass-derived solvents, or carbon dioxide as alternatives to hazardous organic solvents in analytical techniques. These solvents play a crucial role in transforming lignocellulosic biomass into high-value products. The synergy between green chemistry and biorefineries is vital for creating a sustainable, circular, and environmentally friendly chemical industry.

This Special Issue aims to offer an extensive and current perspective on the efficient role of low environmental impact solvents in biorefinery and the chemical industry, welcoming manuscripts including, but not limited, to the following topics:

  • Advancements in Sustainable Processes and Biorefineries.
  • Research on Green Chemistry's Environmental Impact Mitigation.
  • Innovative Green Approaches to Biomass Pre-treatment and Fractionation.
  • Studies on Low Environmental Impact Solvents for Biomass Transformation.

Dr. Raquel Cañadas
Dr. Cristina Álvarez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • sustainable process
  • green chemistry
  • green solvent
  • low environmental impact
  • eco-fiendly technology
  • biorefinery
  • lignocellulosic biomass
  • bioproducts
  • chemical industry

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

23 pages, 1994 KiB  
Review
Exploring Recent Advances in Lignocellulosic Biomass Waste Delignification Through the Combined Use of Eutectic Solvents and Intensification Techniques
by Cristina Álvarez, Aleta Duque, Andrea Sánchez-Monedero, Emilio J. González, María González-Miquel and Raquel Cañadas
Processes 2024, 12(11), 2514; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12112514 - 12 Nov 2024
Viewed by 822
Abstract
Growing awareness of resource sustainability and waste management has driven the search for circular-economy solutions. Lignocellulosic biomass waste, the most abundant renewable carbon resource, offers green potential as an alternative to declining non-renewable fuels. However, due to its recalcitrant nature, it requires pre-processing [...] Read more.
Growing awareness of resource sustainability and waste management has driven the search for circular-economy solutions. Lignocellulosic biomass waste, the most abundant renewable carbon resource, offers green potential as an alternative to declining non-renewable fuels. However, due to its recalcitrant nature, it requires pre-processing to convert it into valuable products like energy and chemicals. Biorefineries play a key role in this process by promoting the integral use of biomass, by finding ways to utilize lignin, previously treated as waste. Common pretreatment methods are unsustainable, prompting research into eco-friendly solvents and advanced techniques like ultrasound- and microwave-assisted methods. Recent approaches have also explored the use of eutectic solvents, which, when combined with these intensification techniques, offer promising results. These green technologies improve delignification efficiency, which in turn improves the saccharification process, reduces solvent use, and minimizes environmental impact. Despite progress, challenges remain in making these methods economically viable and adaptable to diverse biomass types. This review article highlights recent advances in sustainable treatment technologies, including the combined use of eutectic solvents and process-intensification techniques, and the potential of the obtained lignin in various industrial applications. It also discusses future prospects for more environmentally friendly processes in biomass utilization. Full article
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