Waste to green products

1. Editorial Current Organic Chemistry, 2019, Vol. 23, No. 14 1497
EDITORIAL
1385-2728/19 $58.00+.00 © 2019 Bentham Science Publishers
Waste Biomass Utilization for Value-added Green Products
Waste-to-valuable products are being considered as one of the best solutions to convert the waste biomass into green and
environment-friendly products. The wide utilization of waste biomass as a potential source of fuels, power, recycled materials,
and valuable chemicals is well recognized globally. The waste driven fuels are used in all sectors of society for production of
electricity, transport fuel, heating and cooling source, and in industrial processes. These fuels not only solve the waste disposal
issues but also generate enormous economic and environmental benefits. They are promising alternatives due to their
renewable, sustainable and eco-friendly features. However, there are multiple challenges in conversion and efficient utilization
of waste biomass into sustainable energy and fuels.
The purpose of the special issue, titled “Waste Biomass Utilization for Value-added Green Products” is to focus on the best
possible ways to convert the waste biomass into value added and renewable products with an ambition to highlight the recent
trends targeting the challenges and opportunities in this area. Renowned researchers have accepted our invitation to contribute
their articles on the below subtopics;
Conversion/Utilization of Waste Biomass Feedstocks into Fuels: The aspects of discovery and utilization of different waste
biomass feedstocks for generation of various fuels. The examples of such waste biomass to fuels systems include the bio-
alcohols, biodiesel, biogas, biohydrogen, and pyrolysis oils. The issue will cover a wide range of feedstock and conventional
and new production methods including the challenges and prospects. In the last few decades, due to the ever-increasing
exploitation of fossil fuels, there is a significant emphasis and demand on exploring and developing alternative, cost-effective,
and non-food feedstocks or waste biomass sources for producing fuels and value-added products. Therefore, authors are
expected to submit high-quality papers on this subtopic that will serve as a great contribution to this demanding area.
Micro-Algae and Macro-Algae Based Biofuels: In the last few decades, there has been tremendous research on the
utilization of micro and macro algae for biofuels production and increasing the process efficiency and quality of the products.
Despite all these efforts and investment, there remain many challenges and scope for improvement in this area before potential
commercialization of this technology worldwide. The authors are expected to not only highlight and discuss these areas but also
give solutions and their recommendation for overall process optimization. Multiple benefits are sought through these processes
including bio-waste treatment, production of clean fuels and CO2 capturing for huge environmental and economic benefits.
Contributions under this subtopic would be preferred covering both the scientific and engineering aspects of algae biofuels.
Development of Advanced Catalysts for Biofuels: The role of catalysts is critical not only in the conversion process of
biofuels systems but also in making the overall process more efficient, less energy intensive and economically feasible.
However, the primary challenge with the use of catalysts is the high cost. Recently, waste biomass-based catalysts such as
biochar and natural minerals like natural zeolite are utilized instead of costly commercial catalysts. Therefore, this subtopic
would cover how such cheap and effective catalysts could be developed for various biofuels systems such as transesterification
(biodiesel), anaerobic digestion (biogas), fermentation (bio-alcohols) and bio-hydrogen.
State-of-the-art Cost-Effective Bioenergy Production Technologies: This subtopic would cover the state-of-the-art and cost-
effective bioenergy production technologies such as pyrolysis, supercritical water reforming, gasification, anaerobic digestion,
torrefaction, and liquid phase processing. Currently, one of the most limiting factors of bioenergy production technologies is the
high capital/ operational cost or low profitability. New ideas and paradigm will be gathered to contribute to solving this issue
through this special issue. A primary emphasis will be given to such contributions, covering the scientific aspects of process
and products chemistry.
Use of Waste and Non-profitable Natural Resources for Optimization of Biofuel Production: This subtopic would cover the
utilization of waste and non-profitable natural resources such as lands, water, and biochar, natural minerals in optimizing the
first and second generation biofuels such as bioalcohols (ethanol or methanol), biomethanation and biodiesel.

2. 1498 Current Organic Chemistry, 2019, Vol. 23, No. 14 Editorial
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Value-Added Green Products: This subtopic would cover the aspects of both biomass waste
utilization and value-added green products in the form of fuels and energy. The established or new models of LCA should be
used for detailed technical, economic and environmental aspects of these processes and products, crucial before moving
towards commercialization. In addition, the engineering design for feedstock processing and biofuel production plants would be
covered under this subtopic.
Integration of Waste to Energy Technologies: This subtopic would cover the various waste to energy and waste-based
biorefineries systems in an integrated way. The ultimate goal is to achieve more sustainable and environmentally friendly
systems and products. The examples of such systems include the organic waste biorefinery, agricultural and forestry residues
biorefinery. Contributors are encouraged to cover the various sources of municipal and industrial wastes which could be
potentially utilized for energy, fuels, heat, and chemicals production.
As Guest Editors, we would like to thank all the authors for their precious contributions and all the reviewers for their
excellent work in evaluating the submitted manuscripts. We also wish to thank the Editor in Chief, Prof. György Keglevich and
the Editorial Manager Ms. Sanober Maqbool for their kind support in preparing this “Special Issue”.
Dr. Umer Rashid
(Guest Editor)
Fellow Researcher Institute of Advanced
Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: +60-3-97697393; Fax: +60-3-97697006
Email: umer.rashid@yahoo.com;
umer.rashid@upm.edu.my
Dr. Abdul-Sattar Nizami
(Co-Guest Editor)
Head of Solid Waste Research Unit and
Associate Editor for Renewable &
Sustainable Energy Reviews (Elsevier),
Center of Excellence in Environmental
Studies (CEES), King Abdulaziz
University, Jeddah 80216, Saudi Arabia.
E-mails: anizami@kau.edu.sa;
nizami_pk@yahoo.com
Dr. Mohammad Rehan
(Co-Guest Editor)
Assistant Professor and Associate Editor
for Frontiers in Energy Research, Center of
Excellence in Environmental Studies
(CEES), King Abdulaziz University,
Jeddah 80216, Saudi Arabia.
E-mail: drmohammad_rehan@yahoo.co.uk