Catalytic Technologies for Renewable Biomass Conversion (2020)

Massive usage of non-renewable fuels causes significant amounts of greenhouse gases emission leading to global warming. A transition from such a fossil-based economy to a more sustainable economy is therefore mandatory. Among the different options, valorization of biomass, a renewable and abundant carbon source in nature, into fuels, chemicals, and materials is an important opportunity to realize such a sustainable world. Provided there is proper processing and technology development, and a critical analysis of their life cycles, such green carbon sources have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable future. This special issue showcases several aspects of current developments for biomass conversion and utilization. Both the current state of the art, as well as critical discussions and definition of real challenges can be found in the various contributions. Topics that are touched on include biomass derived char supported catalysts, as well as novel solvents dedicated for biomass fractionation. Also manifested in this issue is the diversity of catalytic technologies for transformation of different biomass feedstock to fuel additives, chemicals, and polymer building blocks. As expected, catalytic hydrogenolysis plays a dominant role both in the biomass degradation such as lignin depolymerization, and subsequent transformation of the lignin derivatives such as phenolics, into fuel additives and chemicals. Catalytic oxidation through either thermal catalysis or electro-catalysis elegantly shows its ability to produce functional chemicals and polymer precursors. Acid catalysis complements various routes for renewable chemicals production, as it is shown here. Biomass pretreatment using alkaline treatment retains its critical effect on modifying the inherent properties of the biomass feedstock with regard to the further depolymerization and upgrading. In addition to catalytic technologies, this issue highlights new progress in catalyst development and fabrication such as the use of bimetallic catalysts for glycerol oxidation at low temperature, and a solid super-acid based catalyst for selective oxygen removal. The design of multiple catalytic functionalities and mesostructured porosity seems to be a constant in the achievement of catalysts displaying better performance. We sincerely thank the editorial team of Advanced Sustainable Systems for their support in coordinating this special issue and handling all the manuscripts. We also are grateful and respectful to the authors and reviewers for their important contributions and efforts. We hope that this special issue will inspire many scientists in this field to advance the (catalytic) conversion and utilization of biomass towards renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials, ultimately with the general goal to make the world more sustainable. Longlong Ma, currently a professor (since 2002) and the director of Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion (GIEC), Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), received his PhD in chemical technology from East China University of Science and Technology. His research interests include the theory studies on the aqueous catalysis of biomass, biomass pyrolysis, gasification, and power generation. Bert F. Sels (1972), currently full professor at KU Leuven, obtained his PhD in 2000 in the field of heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. He was director of the Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis (COK, 2015–2018), and started in 2019 at KU Leuven a new division called ‘Centre for Sustainable Catalysis and Engineering, CSCE'. His research activities encompass the design of heterogeneous catalysts for the future challenges in industrial organic and environmental catalysis. His expertise includes use of heterogeneous catalysis in biorefineries and biofactories.