Advances in Green Chemistry and Catalytic Materials in Environmental and Energy Systems

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to advance the development of catalytic and sustainable chemical processing pathways that contribute to the transition toward a low-carbon and resource-efficient society. It will gather cutting-edge research on green energy production, including hydrogen, biogas and biomethane from anaerobic digestion, and other renewable energy vectors, as well as the design and application of advanced carbon-based materials for catalytic and environmental purposes. Particular emphasis will be placed on waste valorization and circular economy strategies, promoting the conversion of residual biomass and industrial by-products into value-added chemicals and fuels through thermochemical, catalytic, and biological processes. Special consideration will be given to studies demonstrating a high technology readiness level (TRL), with clear potential for scale-up and industrial implementation. The scope also includes environmental remediation, pollution control, and the integration of sustainable processes. In addition, contributions incorporating process modeling, simulation, and life cycle assessment (LCA) are encouraged to evaluate environmental impacts and optimize system performance. By promoting research with strong applicability and technological maturity, this Special Issue seeks to bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world industrial solutions. 

The transition toward sustainable chemical processing has become a critical priority in the context of climate change, resource depletion, and increasing environmental pressures. Conventional chemical industries, largely dependent on fossil resources and energy-intensive processes, are facing the urgent need to adopt cleaner, more efficient, and circular approaches. In this scenario, catalysis plays a pivotal role in enabling the transformation of renewable feedstocks, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing waste generation. Recent advances in green chemistry, biomass valorization, and renewable energy integration have opened new pathways for the development of environmentally benign processes. In particular, the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass, waste streams, and carbon-based materials, together with biological routes such as anaerobic digestion for biogas and biomethane production, has gained significant attention as a means to produce fuels, chemicals, and functional materials with reduced environmental impact. Additionally, the emergence of green hydrogen and upgraded biogas streams as clean energy carriers further reinforces the need for innovative catalytic systems and sustainable process design. The integration of process modeling, life cycle assessment, and circular economy principles is essential to evaluate and optimize these technologies from both environmental and economic perspectives. Therefore, advancing catalytic and sustainable chemical processing represents a key scientific and technological challenge with far-reaching implications for achieving global sustainability goals.

The aim of this Special Issue is to address key challenges and emerging opportunities in catalytic and sustainable chemical processing by focusing on the development of innovative technologies for green energy production, resource efficiency, and environmental protection. Particular attention is given to green hydrogen, biogas and biomethane from anaerobic digestion, and other renewable energy vectors, as well as the design and application of carbon-based materials and the catalytic and thermochemical conversion of biomass and waste into value-added products. The Special Issue further explores advanced strategies for environmental remediation and pollution control, as well as circular economy approaches aimed at closing material loops and minimizing waste generation, including biological and hybrid processes for waste treatment and energy recovery. In addition, contributions addressing higher technology readiness levels, pilot-scale validation, and challenges associated with the transition from laboratory research to practical or pre-commercial implementation are particularly encouraged, while the Special Issue remains open to high-quality studies covering a broad range of development stages in this field. In this context, the integration of process modeling, simulation tools, and LCA is considered essential for evaluating performance, optimizing systems, and ensuring the sustainability of proposed solutions. This thematic focus is fully aligned with the scope of Sustainability, particularly in advancing sustainable energy systems, circular resource management, and environmentally responsible chemical processes that contribute to long-term global sustainability.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Catalytic, thermochemical, and biological processes for biomass conversion, lignin valorization, and anaerobic digestion;
• Waste-to-value technologies and circular economy strategies in chemical processing;
• Green hydrogen, biogas, and biomethane production, storage, and integration in sustainable energy systems;
• Design and application of advanced carbon-based materials for catalysis and environmental uses;
• Environmental remediation and pollution control through catalytic and sustainable approaches;
• Sustainable chemical processes and green chemistry for low-impact production;
• Integration of renewable energy sources in chemical and industrial processes;
• Process modeling, simulation, optimization, and techno-economic assessment;
• Life cycle assessment (LCA) and sustainability evaluation of chemical technologies;
• Pilot-scale studies, scale-up strategies, and high technology readiness level (TRL) approaches in sustainable chemical processes, green chemistry, and catalytic materials.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Dr. Raúl García-Cervilla
Dr. Miguel García-Rollán
Dr. Miguel Angel Rodriguez-Cano
Dr. María del Carmen Recio-Ruiz
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.

• sustainable catalysis and green chemistry
• biomass valorization, lignin conversion, and anaerobic digestion
• carbon-based materials for catalytic and environmental applications
• green hydrogen, biogas, and biomethane with renewable energy integration
• circular economy and waste-to-value processes
• thermochemical, catalytic, and biological conversion technologies
• environmental remediation and pollution control
• process modeling and simulation of chemical systems
• life cycle assessment (LCA) and sustainability evaluation
• pilot-scale validation
• scale-up challenges
• technology readiness levels (TRLs)