Valorisation of the Organic Wastes by the Biorefinery Approach

Dear Colleagues,

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recognized that significant progress had been reached in biomass exploitation for bioenergy production. By contrast, the recovery of high-value molecules and the synthesis of bio-based materials from wastes are still on low technology readiness level (TRL) levels and have not reached any commercial milestones. Therefore, a paradox has emerged: The organic wastes have been used mainly for a specific scope, biofuel production, contradicting the circular economy concept, based on the cascading use of the biomass, previously described.

The proposed Special Issue is addressed at original research papers and review articles involving biomass exploitation for multiple scopes. Moreover, processes for the extraction of high economic values compounds or production of high added value products from biomass is mandatory, coherently with the cascade biorefinery model. The production of biological intermediates will also be considered.

Operations for the extraction, recovery, pretreatments, transformation, and production of high-value molecules and biological intermediates (such as volatile fatty acids) from organic wastes, digestate, and other biomasses will be considered for publication. These processes can be performed with biofuels production (methane, hydrogen, bioethanol, syngas, bio-oils) or combustion for heat generation. Research works combining biomass processes with solar and wind energy will also be appreciated. Moreover, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and papers treating legislative and economic studies cases related to biorefinery will be suitable for the scope of the Special Issue.

NOVELTY OF THIS SPECIAL ISSUE

In previous years, different Special Issues have been published on waste and biomass valorization through the biorefinery approach. These publications are mainly focused on a single use of the wastes and gave priority to bioenergy and biofuels production.

This Special Issue has the aim to promote waste and biomass exploitation for multiple scopes, giving priority to bioprocesses for the recovery, extraction, and production of high-value molecules, eventually coupled to biofuel production operations.

Dr. Federico Battista
Guest Editor

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• organic wastes
• biomass
• biorefinery
• resources recovery
• biofuels
• bioenergy