processes are severely limited by a lack of useful catalysts and detailed information regarding their mechanisms is largely absent. Valorization of biomass to transport fuels requires breakdown of the biomass polymers, full deoxygenation and finally conventional refining, which can be accomplished either by integrated catalytic pyrolysis or by decoupled operations such as hydrotreating, catalytic cracking, esterification and gasification to syngas followed by synthesis of hydrocarbons. The goal of replacing fossil fuels has focused attention on lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable source. Bio-oils derived from biomass offer the prospect of becoming a major feedstock for production of fuels and chemicals, Likely processes for biomass conversion involve depolymerization (e.g., by pyrolysis) and catalytic upgrading of the resultant bio-oils. Although important for understanding the chemistry involved, the majority of the reported catalysts studied employ biomass model compounds that do not represent the real situation. Since useful catalysts will eventually encounter these factors in an operational biorefinery, obtaining performance information with these factors is important for the development of effective catalysts suitable for use in practical biorefineries. The bio-oils themselves are poor fuels; their high oxygen contents make them poorly compatible with today’s infrastructure for hydrocarbon fuels. The incentive for use of renewable resources to replace fossil sources is motivating extensive research on new and alternative fuels derived from biomass. “Advanced Chemical and Biochemical Technology for Biofuels” is a special issue in the American Journal of Chemical Engineering featuring high-quality studies and achievements describing technological and operational advances in the production of biofuels from biomass. Advanced technology from biomass to fuels emphasizes understanding and advancing processes to find efficient solutions in the development and improvement of bioprocesses. The aim is to advance and disseminate knowledge in the related areas of biomass, bio−oil, biofuels, biotransformations and bio−oil upgrading systems analysis, and technologies associated with conversion or production.

Aims and Scope:

Biomass valorization
Use of biomass as feedstock, biofuels, biorefinings
Catalytic upgrading of bio−oil
Upgrading process intensification and optimization
Kinetic modeling and reaction network development
Biochemical and bioprocess engineering
Application of catalysis in clean synthesis and processing
Process design: scale up and scale down technologies
Biotechnology principles and applications in industry
Kinetics and modeling of biological systems
Transport phenomena in bioreactors
Bioreactor design, monitoring, and control
Computational and systems biology