Biocatalytic Processes: A Multidisciplinary Platform for Future Biorefineries and Energy Conversion Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Applied biocatalytic processes play a growing role in global material and energy cycles. To date, it is yet to be determined how the diversity of biocatalysts employed in laboratory scale experimentation of energy conversion systems and resource recovery processes will affect the future bioeconomy. Nevertheless, current attempts and advances to integrate biocatalysts with distributed energy systems and developing biorefineries, as well as to combine disciplines such as bioelectrochemistry, process engineering, and power/waste-to-x technologies, are plentiful and outline a promising path to follow.

Among these, the development of tools enabling a cleaner and more efficient exploitation of organic wastes, sewage sludge, or lignocellulosic biomass, as well as harnessing alternative catalytic systems from renewable resources are exciting directions that call for further research activity.

In this Special Issue, we aim to highlight the most recent innovations in biocatalytic approaches for advanced energy conversion and biomass valorization. This includes, but is clearly not limited to, microbial or enzymatic processes that facilitate (i) usage and storage of excess renewable electricity as biofuels or value-added chemicals; (ii) sustainable and distributed power generation; (iii) resource bio-recovery from waste streams. We are looking forward to discussing the chances offered by sustainably sourced catalysts and bioreactor components, and accomplishments in the field of biocatalytic tool development.

Prof. Dr. Katharina Herkendell
Prof. Dr. Marianna Villano
Prof. Dr. Dana Akilbekova
Guest Editors

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