About this Research Topic
To avoid resources depletion and climate change, renewable energy sources and more efficient and integrated processes are currently needed. The production of chemicals, fuels, and materials, (i) have to change from a mostly linear synthesis pathway to closed-loop alternatives based on circular economy approaches, and (ii) have to rely on green and low carbon synthesis processes, while supporting their economic competitiveness in the upcoming years. Green and low carbon chemicals, fuels, and materials constitute the base for the transition towards a sustainable economic system. Important sectors that need to decrease their dependence on fossil fuels, in terms of raw materials and energy consumption are, for instance, plastics, construction, packaging, textile, electronics, batteries or transport.
To advance towards the implementation of novel circular approaches and green and low carbon processes, it is important to advance towards processes that eliminate waste, use renewable sources, or that generate less emissions than the widespread benchmark processes. To evaluate the economic characteristics (business cases) and the environmental benefit of the proposed options, process modelling is a powerful tool. Given the impressive advances in mathematical programming techniques during the last decades, a process systems engineering (PSE) approach is a suitable approach to deal with synthesis problems, systems analysis, and life cycle analysis (LCA). Besides, the significant advances offered for solving enormous challenges, particularly for linear and mixed-integer linear programming techniques, offer unique possibilities to deal with this Research Topic.
The focus of this Research Topic is on chemicals, fuels and materials synthesis processes; circular approaches, green, low carbon and transitional solutions towards more environmentally friendly options. We look for Original Research, Review, or Mini Review papers that discuss these issues. Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Techno-economic and life cycle analyses of synthesis of green / low carbon chemicals, fuels, and materials;
• Evaluation, process design and optimization of new synthesis pathways of chemicals, fuels, and materials;
• Analysis of the implementation of green / low carbon chemicals, fuels, and materials;
• Circular economy, carbon dioxide utilization, and electrochemistry for chemicals synthesis.
To advance towards the implementation of novel circular approaches and green and low carbon processes, it is important to advance towards processes that eliminate waste, use renewable sources, or that generate less emissions than the widespread benchmark processes. To evaluate the economic characteristics (business cases) and the environmental benefit of the proposed options, process modelling is a powerful tool. Given the impressive advances in mathematical programming techniques during the last decades, a process systems engineering (PSE) approach is a suitable approach to deal with synthesis problems, systems analysis, and life cycle analysis (LCA). Besides, the significant advances offered for solving enormous challenges, particularly for linear and mixed-integer linear programming techniques, offer unique possibilities to deal with this Research Topic.
The focus of this Research Topic is on chemicals, fuels and materials synthesis processes; circular approaches, green, low carbon and transitional solutions towards more environmentally friendly options. We look for Original Research, Review, or Mini Review papers that discuss these issues. Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Techno-economic and life cycle analyses of synthesis of green / low carbon chemicals, fuels, and materials;
• Evaluation, process design and optimization of new synthesis pathways of chemicals, fuels, and materials;
• Analysis of the implementation of green / low carbon chemicals, fuels, and materials;
• Circular economy, carbon dioxide utilization, and electrochemistry for chemicals synthesis.
Keywords: Green fuels, Closed-loop alternatives, Low carbon processes, Sustainable development, Process systems engineering, LCA, Economic competitiveness
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
