Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is calling for submissions to our Collection on "Catalytic methods to recycle plant biomass components into eco-friendly agrochemicals for sustainable agriculture". As the global population continues to grow, the demand for sustainable agricultural practices becomes increasingly urgent. Advancing our collective understanding of catalytic methods for recycling plant biomass components into eco-friendly agrochemicals is essential for achieving this goal. Significant progress has been made in developing catalytic processes that convert lignin and cellulose into valuable agrochemicals, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing environmental impact. Future research in this field may focus on several key areas, including the optimization of metabolic networks to enhance the efficiency of catalytic processes, the innovative utilization of carbon dioxide as a feedstock for agrochemical synthesis, and the application of insights from photosynthesis to develop novel catalytic strategies.
The Collection will include research on the following sub-topics:
1. Lignin Catalysis: Exploring innovative catalytic methods for the conversion of lignin into high-value agrochemicals, including the development of new catalysts and reaction conditions.
2. Cellulose Conversion: Investigating efficient catalytic processes for the transformation of cellulose into bio-based chemicals and materials, focusing on yield optimization and process scalability.
3. Metabolic Network Optimization: Analyzing the integration of metabolic engineering and catalysis to enhance the production of agrochemicals from biomass, including the use of synthetic biology approaches.
4. Carbon Dioxide Utilization: Examining strategies for utilizing carbon dioxide as a sustainable feedstock in agrochemical synthesis, including the development of novel catalytic systems and reaction pathways.
5. Photosynthesis-Inspired Catalytic Strategies: Leveraging the principles of natural photosynthesis to design and develop innovative catalytic processes that mimic nature’s efficiency in converting sunlight and biomass into valuable products.
6. Integrated Biorefinery Systems: Integrating catalytic processes used to produce agricultural chemicals from biomass with other biorefinery processes could offer considerable benefits, particularly in terms of enhancing energy efficiency and recycling waste.
7. Biomass-based catalytic polymerization