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Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Functional Materials

Submission Deadline: 30 April 2025 View: 88 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Widya Fatriasari, Professor, Doctor, Research Center for Biomass and Bioproducts BRIN and Collaboration Mulawarman University, Indonesia
During her research activities in biomass conversion, Prof. Widya Fatriasari has published scientific papers in reputable journals, books, and chapter books. Up to 180 publications have been published in international academic journals. About 40 inventions have been registered in the form of Indonesian patents, industrial designs, copyrights, awards, and recognition. One of her inventions is acknowledged as one of Indonesia’s 113 most prospective innovation works. LIPI and BRIN awarded her the highest intellectual property rights in 2021 and 2022. One of her patents has been licensed by the start-up Indonesian Industry. In 2021, she was awarded by Himpenindo (Indonesian Research Association) as an outstanding young researcher in the field of technology. In 2023, she achieved an award as one of twelve of the best researchers in BRIN based on her achievements during 2022.

R.A. Ilyas, senior lecturer, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia
Dr. R.A. Ilyas is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia. He is also a Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM), Sweden, a Fellow of the International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS), Japan, a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK and the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), UK, Chair of Science Outreach for Young Scientists Network - Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM) 2023. He received his Diploma in Forestry, a Bachelor's Degree (BSc) in Chemical Engineering, and a Ph.D. degree in the field of Biocomposite Technology & Design at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. R.A. Ilyas was the recipient of the MVP Doctor of Philosophy Gold Medal Award UPM 2019, for Best Ph.D. Thesis and Top Student Award, INTROP, UPM. He was awarded Outstanding Reviewer, Top Cited Article 2020-2021, and Best Paper Award at various journals and International Conferences. R.A. Ilyas also was listed and awarded among the World’s Top 2% Scientists (Career-Long Achievement) Year 2022 and the world’s Top 2% Scientist (Subject-Wise) Citation Impact during the Single Calendar Year 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 by Stanford University, US, PERINTIS Publication Award 2021 and 2022 by Persatuan Saintis Muslim Malaysia, Emerging Scholar Award by Automotive and Autonomous Systems 2021, Belgium, Young Scientists Network - Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM) 2021, UTM Young Research Award 2021, UTM Publication Award 2021, and UTM Highly Cited Researcher Award 2021. In 2021, he won the Gold Award and Special Award (Kreso Glavac (The Republic of Croatia) at the Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE2022), a Gold Award dan Special Award at International Borneo Innovation, Exhibition & Competition 2022 (IBIEC2022), and, a Gold Award at New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI2022). His main research interests are (1) Polymer Engineering (Biodegradable Polymers, Biopolymers, Polymer composites, Polymer-gels) and (2) Material Engineering (Natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites, Biocomposites, Cellulose materials, Nano-composites). To date, he has authored or co-authored more than 500 publications on green materials-related subjects.

Mohd. Hazwan Hussin, Associate Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Hazwan Hussin received his B.Sc (Hons.) in Chemistry and M.Sc degrees (funded by Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education) from Universiti Sains Malaysia, respectively. He was awarded double-PhD degree program with USM and Universite de Lorraine, France (funded by Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education and Boursier du Governement Francais) and also was awarded the Best PhD Research by Institute of Postgraduate Studies, USM. His research area involves valorization of lignocellulosic biomass for advanced material applications and corrosion protections. He was listed as Top 2 % Scientist in the world (under the category of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 citation) by Stanford University. He was awarded the Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM) 2023 by Academy of Science Malaysia. He is also a Research Fellow at CeGeoGTech, UNIMAP and a Visiting Professor at the Universite de Lorraine, France. He has published more than 150 papers of his research work in reputable journals and also presented many scientific papers in various conferences, nationally and internationally. He is an Associate Editor and Review Editor for several international academic journals.

Summary

It is well known that lignocellulosic biomass from wood and non-wood sources is abundant, renewable, and biodegradable. Owing to its complex structure, it can be fractionated using a variety of methods to obtain biopolymers, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin as the main structural components, as well as non-structural components, such as extractives. Biopolymers have become an important source for a wide variety of bioproducts, such as biocomposites, bioenergy, pulp and paper, functional materials, and fine chemicals. Biomass conversion, accomplished through different physicochemical, thermochemical, and biochemical methods, represents a key step to producing energy, chemical products, and other functional materials in an environmentally friendly and economically feasible way. Despite the fact that research on the valorization of biopolymers, such as cellulose and lignin, is progressing, the related economic aspects still remain a challenge. Therefore, relevant fractionation technology has been pursued in order to identify the best and most economically viable methods. It is also influenced by the variability of basic properties of lignocellulosic biomass based on species, growth site, age, environmental conditions, etc. The biorefinery concept in biomass conversion is a promising approach for achieving complete biopolymer utilization into various value-added bioproducts. Waste generation in the conversion process can be significantly reduced, and, thus, the circular economy principles can be achieved. The efficiency process can then be attained and the production costs can be substantially reduced. This Special Issue “Valorization of lignocellulosic biomass for functional materials” is aimed at collecting high-quality original research and review articles on topics including (but not limited to) the most recent approaches in biomass conversion of wood and non-wood materials into bioproducts; basic properties of biomass for bioproduct sources; the most recent and advanced biomass conversion technologies applicable to both woody and non-woody biomass; the effects of pretreatment variables on the properties of bioproducts; principal mechanisms of biomass conversion; utilization of biopolymers, including structural and non-structural components for functional materials, such as bio-composites, bioenergy, chemicals, pulp and paper, cosmetics, biosurfactant, etc.; application of biorefinery concept of biomass conversion into bioproducts; environmental impact and life cycle assessment of bioproducts; and socio-economical aspect assessment in the biomass conversion. We strongly encourage contributions from biopolymer scientists and experts from all related fields in the form of original research works or review articles.


This Special Issue “Valorization of lignocellulosic biomass for functional materials” is aimed at collecting high-quality original research and review articles on topics including (but not limited to) the most recent approaches in biomass conversion of wood and non-wood materials into bioproducts.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Basic properties of biomass for bioproduct sources;

• The most recent and advanced biomass conversion technologies applicable to both woody and non-woody biomass;

• The effects of pretreatment variables on the properties of bioproducts;

• Principal mechanisms of biomass conversion;

• Utilization of biopolymers including structural and non-structural components for functional materials;

• Application of biorefinery concept of biomass conversion into bioproducts environmental impact and life cycle assessment of bioproducts;

• Socio-economical aspect assessment in the biomass conversion.


Keywords

biomass conversion; cellulose and lignin valorization; woody and non-woody biomass; agro-industrial biomass; socio-economical assessment; life cycle assessment; biopolymer composites; lignocellulosic composites; reinforced composite structures; bioenergy; biorefinery; fine chemicals; functional materials

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