Advanced Thermochemical and Biochemical Processes for Biomass Transformation to Biofuels and Biochemicals

Dear Colleagues,

Biomass was the first fuel used by humans and it dominated the world's energy supply until the 19th century (Industrial Revolution); it is still used, mainly in rural areas of developing countries for cooking and heating. Now, as a renewable resource, biomass is once again becoming a feedstock for the production of both fuels and chemicals. Biomass is the only renewable source of carbon and, in the long term, biochemicals can replace currently produced fossil-based chemicals.

To achieve this, and to meet sustainable development goals, in particular the challenges of the European Green Deal, we should intensify the research on and development of biomass conversion processes, both thermochemical and biological.

Biorefineries appear to be a promising approach for the full valorization of biomass into bioenergy and a range of bioproducts. However, product quality and bioprocessing strategy are highly dependent on the nature, composition, and quality of the biomass feedstock and the conversion methods used. The production of electricity, heat, and biofuels from biomass has received considerable attention in the current energy scenario. However, thermochemical conversion generally produces biofuels of inferior quality and is associated with significant production costs. Biochemical conversion, on the other hand, is less efficient in breaking down resistant biomass materials and has slower production rates. The integration of both processes not only promotes the development of a circular economy, but also alleviates the limitations of a single conversion pathway. In addition, conversion to value-added products is achieved through biological or thermochemical conversion processes. The integration of multiple technologies not only alleviates the difficulties associated with each technology, but also increases the profitability of the biorefinery and improves the energy sustainability of the overall process.

Current research in a number of research centers highlights the development, progress, and future potential of combining thermochemical and biochemical conversion processes to produce value-added chemicals and green fuels. This Special Issue of Energies therefore aims to meet the expectations of the circular economy and improve resource use.

This Special Issue focuses on different sources of biomass, thermochemical and biochemical processes, and their applications in low-carbon demand industries for the production of carbonized solid biofuels and value-added bio-products. We therefore invite papers on different types of biomass and thermochemical and biochemical process technologies, in particular their integration for bioproducts production for different industrial applications, industrial demonstration examples, case study scenarios, LCA analysis of biomass conversion plants. Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Thermochemical conversion of different biomass sources such as torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification;
• Hydrothermal processes such as -hydrolysis (HTH), -carbonization (HTC), -liquefaction (HTL), and -gasification (HTG);
• Integration of thermochemical processes with biological processes such as hybrid pyrolysis-anaerobic digestion, HTC with anaerobic digestion, HTC with dark fermentation and photofermentation, HTL and HTG with bioconversion;
• Biohydrogen production processes;
• Decarbonization via waste valorization processes;
• Safety aspects of biomass conversion processes on a semi- and industrial scalel;
• Environmental assessment of biomass conversion;
• LCA and TEA of biorefinery plants.

Prof. Dr. Stanislaw Ledakowicz
Dr. Szymon Szufa
Guest Editors

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• biomass conversion
• biorefinery
• torrefaction
• pyrolysis
• gasification hydrothermal processes
• fermentation
• hydrolysis
• anaerobic digestion
• dark fermentation
• process integration
• dry torrefaction
• wet torrefaction
• steam torrefaction
• biofuels
• biochar
• biocarbon
• biosorbents
• activated carbon
• by-products
• carbonized fuel
• biofertilizers
• hydrochar