Biomass and Solid Wastes to Renewable Fuel, Value-Added Chemicals, and Functional Materials

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will primarily focus on the sustainable utilization of biomass, solid wastes, biofuel, biochemicals, the use of bio-based materials in processes such as CO₂ capture and conversion, and pollutant adsorption and separation, as well as the employment of renewable materials in catalytic reactions.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to publish research that addresses the utilization of biomass-derived materials, biomass to biofuel, biomass to biochemicals, biomass-derived chemical upgrading, and solid-waste-derived materials, with a particular emphasis on their applications in CO₂ adsorption and CO₂ conversion to value-added chemicals. Nevertheless, other scientific studies pertinent to sustainable development are also welcome for submission.

(1) Introduction, including scientific background and highlighting the importance of this research area.

In the context of global efforts toward carbon neutrality and ecological preservation, the sustainable utilization of renewable biomass and waste-derived materials has emerged as a pivotal strategy for mitigating climate change and alleviating environmental burdens. Bio-mass and solid-waste materials are easily available and low-cost materials. Unlike conventional fossil-based resources, renewable biomass and solid-waste materials offer considerable potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, recover valuable elements, and close material loops across industrial and natural systems. Their rational deployment not only contributes to resource efficiency but also plays a vital role in curbing pollution and safeguarding ecosystem integrity. Existing collections typically focus on either biomass conversion or waste treatment, without sufficient integration of product upgrading and sustainability assessment. Given the growing societal and scientific recognition of these benefits, there is an urgent need to advance fundamental understanding and technological innovation in the valorization of such materials for carbon mitigation and environmental protection.

(2) Aim of the Special issue and how the subject relates to the journal scope.

With a commitment to promoting sustainability science, Sustainability proposes the Special Issue entitled “Biomass and Solid Wastes to Renewable Fuel, Value-Added Chemicals, and Functional Materials”. This Special Issue will concentrate on the following key scientific topics, which are well in line with the journal's scope. The topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Feedstocks and Processing.

Biomass thermochemical conversion (pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal processes, etc.).

Waste processing (MSW, plastics, sludge, agricultural residues, etc.).

2. Fuels, Biochemicals, and Functional Materials Production.

Biofuels (bio-oil, syngas, SAF, hydrogen, etc.).

Platform chemicals and biochemicals, etc.

Functional materials (Carbon materials, MOF materials, zeolite, etc.)

3. Advanced reaction systems and process integration.

Catalytic upgrading of biomass and waste-derived products.

Co-valorisation of solid waste with CO₂, CH₄, or industrial off-gases for carbon mitigation.

4. Applications and Sustainability.

End-use performance and compatibility.

Techno-economic and life-cycle assessments.

(3) Suggest themes.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: The utilization of biomass-based materials on CO₂ reduction, H₂ production, catalysis reactions, etc. Here, this Special Issue titled “Biomass and Solid Wastes to Renewable Fuel, Value-Added Chemicals, and Functional Materials” from Sustainability invites the submission of papers on the above topics. In this Special Issue, we will gather leading experts from a variety of disciplines to share their recent knowledge on fundamental and practical strategies for CO₂ utilization, resource recovery from biomass, and uses for solid waste to achieve a sustainable environment. We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Ye Wang
Dr. Xudong Liu
Dr. Fuhuan Wang
Dr. Chao Sun
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. Sustainability 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.

• biomass
• solid waste
• biofuels and biochemicals
• CO₂ catalytic utilization
• environmental pollutant management