About this Research Topic
Circular bioeconomy is critical for the fight against climate change. Its success relies primarily on sustainable use of the industrial streams from sectors, such as forestry and agriculture. Lignocellulosic biomass represents a vast majority of the value chains and waste streams from these sectors. Valorization and value addition to these streams by developing next generation high value bioproducts and biomaterials, a market estimated to be US $200-$300B, will help these sectors innovate, diversify, and contribute towards a sustainable circular bioeconomy.
Advances in omics technologies and engineering biology, and its confluence with computing, automation, and artificial intelligence are now providing foundation to discover, develop, test, and build platforms that can develop bioproducts from lignocellulosic biomass. In addition, their applications in carbon sequestration and bioremediation are also lucrative for climate change mitigation and market diversification.
Lignocellulose, comprising of lignin and carbohydrates, varies widely depending upon source of the biomass. For example, the type and content of lignin in hardwoods, softwoods, and agriculture resides vary significantly and is a determining factor in the type of pre-treatment required to separate cellulose, and hemicellulose.
Biotransformation of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose into high value bioproducts is challenged by many factors, such as recalcitrance of the biomass or scalability of the technology. Further, microbial technologies that have not been subjected to the rigour of robust techno economic analysis and market assessment face challenges in adoption by industry and can affect product‘s commercialization.
In this Research Topic, we are seeking articles focused on efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass and waste streams from the forest and agriculture sectors into high value bioproducts using microbial technologies. We are specifically interested in the research applying biological engineering or synthetic biology and systems biology approaches using the cutting-edge gene-editing and high-throughput screening technologies for strain engineering and enzyme discoveries targeting lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose.
Researchers focused on the following research areas are particularly encouraged to submit: biocatalysis, microbial bioremediation, enzyme-catalyzed biomass pre-treatment, prototyping, automation and high through-put screening, biosensors, advanced screening technologies (e.g., microfluidics), biomanufacturing, metabolic engineering, biosynthesis of small molecule chemicals biomaterials production, techno economic analysis of microbial process and bioproducts.
Advances in omics technologies and engineering biology, and its confluence with computing, automation, and artificial intelligence are now providing foundation to discover, develop, test, and build platforms that can develop bioproducts from lignocellulosic biomass. In addition, their applications in carbon sequestration and bioremediation are also lucrative for climate change mitigation and market diversification.
Lignocellulose, comprising of lignin and carbohydrates, varies widely depending upon source of the biomass. For example, the type and content of lignin in hardwoods, softwoods, and agriculture resides vary significantly and is a determining factor in the type of pre-treatment required to separate cellulose, and hemicellulose.
Biotransformation of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose into high value bioproducts is challenged by many factors, such as recalcitrance of the biomass or scalability of the technology. Further, microbial technologies that have not been subjected to the rigour of robust techno economic analysis and market assessment face challenges in adoption by industry and can affect product‘s commercialization.
In this Research Topic, we are seeking articles focused on efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass and waste streams from the forest and agriculture sectors into high value bioproducts using microbial technologies. We are specifically interested in the research applying biological engineering or synthetic biology and systems biology approaches using the cutting-edge gene-editing and high-throughput screening technologies for strain engineering and enzyme discoveries targeting lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose.
Researchers focused on the following research areas are particularly encouraged to submit: biocatalysis, microbial bioremediation, enzyme-catalyzed biomass pre-treatment, prototyping, automation and high through-put screening, biosensors, advanced screening technologies (e.g., microfluidics), biomanufacturing, metabolic engineering, biosynthesis of small molecule chemicals biomaterials production, techno economic analysis of microbial process and bioproducts.
Keywords: Synthetic biology, Lignocellulose, Biocatalysis, Systems biology, Green chemicals, Biomaterials
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.
