Biomass: Advanced Strategies for Renewable Chemicals and Energy Production

Dear Colleagues,

The Topic “Biomass: Advanced Strategies for Renewable Chemicals and Energy Production” explores cutting-edge approaches to converting biomass into valuable products that can serve as alternatives to fossil fuels. This encompasses a range of technologies, strategies, and processes focused on the sustainable production of energy and chemicals from renewable biomass resources. These include the utilization of diverse biomass feedstocks—such as agricultural residues, algae, and waste—and their conversion into biofuels, biochemicals, and energy using thermochemical and biochemical processes like pyrolysis, gasification, and fermentation. Emerging technologies such as biorefineries, which integrate multiple conversion processes and optimize biomass utilization, are also included. Furthermore, research focuses on producing advanced biofuels (e.g., cellulosic ethanol, bio-jet fuel), renewable chemicals (e.g., bioplastics, platform chemicals), green energy (e.g., biogas, hydrogen), and the integration of Power-to-X technologies in the form of electro- and photo-catalytic processes within modern bio refineries and fermentation routes. It also considers catalytic advances such as the development of new catalysts for more efficient biomass conversion into high-value chemicals and fuels. Challenges such as feedstock variability, biomass recalcitrance, and economic feasibility are addressed through advances in catalysis, genetic engineering, and techno-economic assessments. Further, life cycle assessments help to ensure that these processes contribute to environmental sustainability.

With this, the Topic is strongly dedicated to the dissemination of innovative research that advances the use of biomass as a sustainable resource for chemicals and energy, contributing to the transition to renewable, low-carbon systems.

Dr. Konstantinos G. Kalogiannis
Dr. Maria Antoniadou
Topic Editors