Special Issues
Table of Content

Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Functional Materials

Submission Deadline: 30 April 2025 (closed) View: 1993 Submit to Journal

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

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    REVIEW

    Bacterial Biorefineries: Transforming Agro-Industrial Waste into Sustainable Solutions for a Circular Bioeconomy

    Sevakumaran Vigneswari, Muhammad Shahrul Md Noor, Fazilah Ariffin, Azila Adnan, Amirah Alias, Lakshmanan Muthulakshmi, Hemalatha Murugaiah, Nor Omaima Harun, Nurul Nadhirah Ruzelan, Lakshiminarayanan Rajamani
    Journal of Renewable Materials, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0148
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Functional Materials)
    Abstract The escalating accumulation of agro-industrial waste—exceeding 350 million tons annually from post-harvest residues, food processing, and aquaculture—poses serious environmental threats, including greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater contamination, and excessive landfill usage. Although conventional treatment methods such as composting, incineration, and recycling offer partial mitigation, they often fall short of delivering scalable, circular solutions. Microbial biorefineries have emerged as a transformative approach, enabling the conversion of diverse biomass streams into high-value renewable materials. Through microbial fermentation, agricultural and municipal waste can be repurposed into functional outputs such as nanocellulose, biochar, and biocompatible compounds with applications in packaging, More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Bacterial Biorefineries: Transforming Agro-Industrial Waste into Sustainable Solutions for a Circular Bioeconomy

  • Open Access

    REVIEW

    Research Progress on Bio-Based Biodegradable Barrier Materials

    Kezheng Gao, Shuaifei Li, Qingyuan Niu, Xiaojing Zhang
    Journal of Renewable Materials, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0108
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Functional Materials)
    Abstract The current global shortage of oil resources and the pollution problems caused by traditional barrier materials urgently require the search for new substitutes. Biodegradable bio-based barrier materials possess the characteristics of being renewable, environmentally friendly, and having excellent barrier properties. They have become an important choice in fields such as food packaging, agricultural film covering, and medical protection. This review systematically analyzes the design and research of this type of material, classifying biobased and biodegradable barrier materials based on the sources of raw materials and synthesis pathways. It also provides a detailed introduction to the More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    High Lignin Content Polymer Filaments as Carbon Fibre Precursors

    Rui Ribeiro, Miguel Guerreiro, Renato Reis, Joana T. Martins, Jorge M. Vieira, Mariana Martins da Silva, José A. Covas, Maria C. Paiva
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.10, pp. 1859-1880, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0071
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Functional Materials)
    Abstract The growing environmental awareness, the search for alternatives to fossil resources, and the goal of achieving a circular economy have all contributed to the increasing valorization of biowaste to produce bio-based polymers and other high-value products. Among the various biowaste materials, lignin has gained significant attention due to its high aromatic carbon content, low cost, and abundance. Lignin is predominantly sourced as a byproduct from the paper industry, available in large quantities from hardwood and softwood, with variations in chemical structure and susceptibility to hydrolysis. This study focuses on softwood lignin obtained through the LignoForce™… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    High Lignin Content Polymer Filaments as Carbon Fibre Precursors

  • Open Access

    REVIEW

    Integration of Biopolyesters and Natural Fibers in Structural Composites: An Innovative Approach for Sustainable Materials

    Nasmi Herlina Sari, Suteja, Widya Fatriasari
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.8, pp. 1521-1546, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02024-0058
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Functional Materials)
    Abstract Composites made from biopolymers and natural fibers are gaining popularity as alternative sustainable structural materials. Biopolyesters including polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), when mixed with natural fibers such as kenaf, hemp, and jute, provide an environmentally acceptable alternative to traditional fossil-based materials. This article examines current research on developments in the integration of biopolymers with natural fibers, with a focus on enhancing mechanical, thermal, and sustainability. Innovative approaches to surface treatment of natural fibers, such as biological and chemical treatments, have demonstrated enhanced adhesion with biopolymer matrices, increasing attributes such as… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Integration of Biopolyesters and Natural Fibers in Structural Composites: An Innovative Approach for Sustainable Materials

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Structural and Mechanical Properties of Bio-Sourced Thermoplastic Materials from Flax and Fatty Acids

    Prabu Satria Sejati, Adrien Magne, Luke Froment, Jennifer Afrim, Alexandre Maenhaut, Julie Maillet, Firmin Obounou Akong, Frédéric Fradet, Philippe Gérardin
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 539-552, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.056813
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Functional Materials)
    Abstract Bio-based thermoplastic film from flax fiber and fatty acid (FA) was obtained using trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA) as an impelling agent. Different quantities of TFAA/FA, size of flax fiber, and fatty acids were applied to investigate chemical structure in relation to the mechanical properties. Decreasing the quantity of TFAA/FA by almost half from 1:4 to 1:2.5 (flax to TFAA/FA) only reduces by 22% the weight percent gain (WPG) and ester content and reducing flax fiber size slightly increases the WPG and ester content. All the treatments showed significant chemical structure modification, observed by FTIR and… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Structural and Mechanical Properties of Bio-Sourced Thermoplastic Materials from Flax and Fatty Acids

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Determination of Physical, Mechanical and Fire Retardancy Properties of Innovative Particleboard Made from Corn Stalk (Zea mays L.) Particles

    Lilik Astari, Benoit Belleville, Kenji Umemura, Alex Filkov, Barbara Ozarska, Robert H. Crawford
    Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.10, pp. 1729-1756, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.054786
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Functional Materials)
    Abstract The demand for particleboard is increasing along with economic and population growth. However, two major barriers to the manufacture of particleboard are a shortage of raw materials (woodchips) and the emission of formaldehyde from conventional adhesives. Agricultural by-products such as corn stalks contain an abundance of renewable lignocellulosic fiber. This study evaluates the effect of citric acid as a natural adhesive and fire retardant addition on the physical, mechanical, and fire retardancy properties of particleboards fabricated from corn stalks. A cost-effective and inorganic salt, calcium carbonate, was tested to enhance the fire retardancy. Ammonium dihydrogen… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Determination of Physical, Mechanical and Fire Retardancy Properties of Innovative Particleboard Made from Corn Stalk (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) Particles

Share Link