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From Biomass to High-Value Products: Processes and Applications

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 476

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Wood Science & Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
Interests: lignin chemistry; carbohydrate chemistry; wood extractives; carbon nanomaterials; wood-based biocomposites
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global trend toward sustainability has emphasized the importance of innovative solutions for critical problems in bioresource utilization, in particular, the conversion of biomass into high-value products.

This Special Issue, "From Biomass to High-Value Products: Processes and Applications", aims to highlight recent progress in biomass valorization through biological, chemical, and thermal strategies. This Special Issue is not limited to studies on biomass valorization, novel catalytic systems, lignin-first approaches, integrated biorefineries, green chemistry, and process engineering; it also welcomes research on related areas such as life cycle analysis and the real-world applications of biomass-derived products in the fields of materials science, energy, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.

By bringing together interdisciplinary research, this Special Issue seeks to promote an understanding of the challenges and opportunities in biomass valorization and to inspire innovative solutions that contribute to sustainability. Original research and review articles are welcome in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Sung Phil Mun
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • biomass valorization
  • biorefineries
  • green chemistry
  • bio-based products
  • catalysis
  • thermochemical conversion
  • sustainable materials

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 1339 KB  
Article
Unmodified Plant and Waste Oils as Functional Additives in PU Flooring Adhesives: A Comparative Study
by Żaneta Ciastowicz, Renata Pamuła, Edyta Pęczek, Paweł Telega, Łukasz Bobak and Andrzej Białowiec
Molecules 2025, 30(18), 3780; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30183780 - 17 Sep 2025
Viewed by 257
Abstract
This work compares reactive (castor) and non-reactive (rapeseed, sunflower, linseed, and used cooking) oils, each at a dosage of 10 wt%, when incorporated into an in-house two-component polyurethane (PU) parquet adhesive. A commercial market adhesive was tested only as an external benchmark and [...] Read more.
This work compares reactive (castor) and non-reactive (rapeseed, sunflower, linseed, and used cooking) oils, each at a dosage of 10 wt%, when incorporated into an in-house two-component polyurethane (PU) parquet adhesive. A commercial market adhesive was tested only as an external benchmark and was not modified. Mechanical properties were evaluated according to EN ISO 17178, inorganic leaching according to EN 12457-4, and volatile organics were screened by headspace GC–MS (not comparable to ISO 16000-9 chamber protocols). All in-house formulations met the EN ISO 17178 acceptance limits. The sunflower oil variant showed the highest shear strength, whereas rapeseed and castor oils provided stable tensile performance. HS-GC-MS did not yield high-confidence VOC identifications; therefore, no regulatory emission claim is made. The formulation with used cooking oil exhibited the largest variability and elevated leaching of Zn and Sb, underscoring the need for feedstock quality control. At 10 wt% loading, standard-compliant performance was obtained with both reactive and non-reactive oils, suggesting that physical modification can be sufficient, while castor oil may additionally react. In contrast to derivatized oils reported elsewhere, our approach employs unmodified oils, thereby avoiding extra reaction steps—such as epoxidation, hydroxylation, and transesterification—that typically increase the carbon footprint, while still meeting relevant standards. Full VOC chamber testing and LCA are beyond the scope of this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Biomass to High-Value Products: Processes and Applications)
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