Recent Progress in Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste Polymers: Innovations and Opportunities

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the economic growth of populations around the world, and the reduction of fossil fuel reserves, new alternative fuels are currently being developed, highlighting those obtained from the thermochemical transformation of residues (lignocellulosic, plastics, used tires, and solid urban waste). Furthermore, novel processes for alternative fuels produced from renewable resources are emerging due to the increase in the concentrations of greenhouse gasses and the human race's consciousness about environmental damage. Moreover, alternative fuels have been explored to guarantee the sustainable development of developed countries as potential fossil oil substitutes. Thus, alternative fuels obtained from catalytic pyrolysis of lignocellulosic resources, plastics, used tires, or co-pyrolysis of biomass/plastics are claimed to be a renewable substitute for fossil fuels and derivatives. Therefore, such processes constitute an appropriate way to obtain sustainable fuels, attracting researchers worldwide and becoming an important area for alternative fuels upgrading, platform molecules, and by-product improvement.

This Special Issue focuses on gathering essential information about obtention and upgrading alternative fuels or platform molecules through catalytic thermochemical processes.

Main topics to be considered in this Special Issue: 

• Reaction mechanisms for thermochemical transformation of polymeric materials.
• Characterization of polymers and platform molecules.
• Sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic, plastic residues, used tires, and solid urban waste to obtain alternative fuels and platform molecules.
• Upgrading alternative fuels from catalytic thermochemical processes.
• Biorefinery and biopolymers.
• Modifying and improving catalysts to enhance catalytic performance, yield, and product distribution.

Prof. Dr. Serguei Alejandro-Martín
Prof. Dr. Luis E. Arteaga-Pérez
Dr. Romina Romero Carrillo
Guest Editors

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