Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to welcome submissions for a new Special Issue entitled "New Challenges in Lignocellulosic Biomass Conversion".

The projected depletion of fossil fuels and the deterioration of the environment has prompted researchers to explore renewable and sustainable sources. Lignocellulosic biomass derived from wastes generated by the agricultural and food industries has been recognized as a promising feedstock for the production of both fuels and a wide variety of chemicals and polymers. Catalytic processes are employed to efficiently convert biomass streams towards high value-added products that can be utilized as platform chemicals, fuels and precursors for polymer synthesis. In order to develop viable processes, advanced technologies/methods should be implemented under a biorefinery and green chemistry approach, thus promoting a circular economy model. Furthermore, the other parameters that should be addressed are the sustainability, the environmental impact and the cost-effectiveness of the technologies.

This Special Issue will focus on the application of emerging technologies for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to value-added chemicals. Original contributions and reviews are highly welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Biomass pre-treatment of isolated cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin;
• Thermo-, bio- and photocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass streams;
• The production of fuels, chemicals and polymers from waste lignocellulosic biomass.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Antigoni Margellou Guest Editor