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Biotechnological applications for the production of biofuels and bioenergy

Guest Editors

Beom Soo Kim, PhD, Chungbuk National University, South Korea
Muhammad Aamer Mehmood, PhD, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan
Long Zou, PhD, Jiangxi Normal University, China


BMC Biotechnology presents the Collection Biotechnological applications for the production of biofuels and bioenergy. This collection emphasizes emerging research and biotechnological applications to develop and improve plant, (micro)algal, microbial and biological conversion systems for the production of biofuels and bioenergy. 


New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 13: Climate Action

Meet the Guest Editors

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Beom Soo Kim, PhD, Chungbuk National University, South Korea

Beom Soo Kim, a professor of chemical engineering at Chungbuk National University in South Korea. He earned his degree in chemical engineering from Seoul National University and later completed his PhD in biochemical engineering at Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST). Following this, he conducted postdoctoral research at Prof Robert Langer's lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2001, Dr Kim established his own research lab at Chungbuk National University. During a sabbatical, he conducted research in Dr Hou's lab at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Illinois. Dr Kim has actively contributed as the Editor-in-Chief of the Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering Journal. Additionally, he is an Editorial Board member for several journals, including BMC Biotechnology. His scholarly achievements include the publication of over 200 papers, and he has been recognized by Stanford University's research team as one of the top 2% most cited scientists in various disciplines. His research interests include high cell density fermentation, biodegradable polymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates, green synthesis and applications of nanomaterials, and drug delivery systems.

Muhammad Aamer Mehmood, PhD, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan

Dr Mehmood is a Professor at the Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology. His research focuses on process optimization for the sustainable utilization of bio-resources, wastewater recycling, resource recovery, and biotransformation of biomass to biofuels and bioproducts including biofertilizers, industrial enzymes, and biopolymers employing microalgae/cyanobacteria/fungi as microbial cell factories in a multiproduct biorefinery paradigm. His team intends to develop low-carbon or carbon-neutral novel bioprocesses for the industry while keeping the Energy-Water-Environment-Food nexus sustainable. He has completed several national and internal research projects and has authored/co-authored 101 research & review articles in peer-reviewed journals, and edited one book (Springer Nature). He is also the Founding Executive Board Member and Secretary General of the Asian Federation of Biotechnology (Pakistan Chapter).

Long Zou, PhD, Jiangxi Normal University, China

Long Zou is an assistant professor at College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Normal University in Nanchang (China). He received his PhD in Clean Energy Sciences from Southwest University (China). His research focuses on the fundamentals and applications of microbial (photo)electrochemistry, including understanding microbial extracellular electron transfer pathways and the production of bioenergy and chemicals. Dr Zou has a relevant publication record with over 40 peer-reviewed papers and 2 book chapters.

About the Collection

BMC Biotechnology presents the Collection Biotechnological applications for the production of biofuels and bioenergy. Fossil fuels (i.e. coal, oil and gas) largely contribute to global climate change due to their impact on global greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions. Rising energy prices and depleting reserves of fossil fuels add further societal relevance in using and developing alternative, renewable energy sources. In this context, biofuels derived from renewable feedstocks have the potential to be a ‘green alternative’ (i.e. sustainable and environmentally friendly) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as our dependence from fossil fuels. Plants, (micro)algae and microorganisms represent promising biological systems with unique bioenergetic and biochemical abilities that can be leveraged to produce biomass and biofuels.
 
While biofuels and bioenergy offer several benefits to our society and the environment, and there is much excitement about their potential, much work is still required to develop novel technologies, applications and approaches that ensure the sustainability, quality, cost-effectiveness and scaling up of their production process. For instance, major advances in the development of novel bioprocessing technologies in biorefineries and farming practices, or genetic engineering of biological systems and microbial cell factories, might hold the key to enhance and scale up biofuel and bioenergy production.
 
To explore the current technological progress, applications and challenges of biofuels and bioenergy research, the Editors of BMC Biotechnology published a Collection on Biotechnological applications for the production of biofuels and bioenergy. This collection supports and aligns with the objectives of The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7, ‘Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’) and 13 (SDG 13, ‘Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’), aiming to promote the use of sustainable green energy and combat climate change. The collection will emphasize on the emerging research and biotechnological applications to develop and improve plant, (micro)algal, microbial and biological conversion systems for the production of biofuels and bioenergy. We invited researchers and experts in the field to submit research articles that explore, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Sustainable production of biofuels and bioenergy from plant, (micro)algal, microbial, and biological conversion systems
  • Molecular mechanisms and regulation of biochemical and metabolic traits applied to enhance biofuel and bioenergy production in biological systems
  • Microbial cell factories for sustainable production of biofuels and bioenergy
  • Emerging biotechnological applications to improve the production of biofuels and bioenergy
  • Nanotechnology applications for the production of biofuels
  • Genetic and metabolic engineering for biofuel production
  • Engineering of plant cell wall to enhance biofuel production
  • Multi-Omics and genome editing technologies, and synthetic biology approaches to improve biofuel and bioenergy production
  • Bioelectrochemistry of microbial cells and bioelectrochemical systems for biofuels and bioenergy
  • Artificial photosynthetic systems (e.g. hybrids of semiconductor-microbial cells) for solar-to-biofuels/bioenergy conversion
  • Microbial fermentation technologies and scaling-up for biomass and biofuel production
  • Advances and applications in algal biomass production and utilization for biofuels and high-value bioproducts
  • Novel harvesting and extraction methods from microbial biomass to produce biofuels and high-value compounds
  • Advances in algal cultivation techniques, bioreactors, and process optimization for biomass production
  • Biotechnological applications for conversion processes, bioprocesses, farming practices and technologies applied to the production of biofuels and bioenergy

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  1. This study investigates the potential of Tetradesmus obliquus for lipid accumulation under heavy metal stress and evaluates it’s aviability for biodiesel production. We surveyed how different concentrations of he...

    Authors: Eman A. Alwaleed, Hamdy R. M. Galal, Mohamed Aboueldahab and Hani Saber
    Citation: BMC Biotechnology 2025 25:20
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. The rise in global temperature and accumulation of petroleum-based wastes in the environment forces the scientific focus towards renewable alternatives. In the present work, an under-exploited resource – spruc...

    Authors: Petter Paulsen Thoresen, Jonas Fahrni, Alok Patel, Josefine Enman, Tomas Gustafsson, Ulrika Rova, Paul Christakopoulos and Leonidas Matsakas
    Citation: BMC Biotechnology 2024 24:96
    Content type: Research Published on:

  3. Genetic diversity, population structure, agro-morphological traits, and molecular characteristics, are crucial for either preserving genetic resources or developing new cultivars. Due to climate change, water ...

    Authors: Adel A. Elshafei, Eid I. Ibrahim, Kamal F. Abdellatif, Abd El-Azeem K. Salem, Khaled A. Moustafa, Abdullah A. Al-Doss, Hussein M. Migdadi, Amal M. Hussien, Walid Soufan, Taha Abd El Rahman and Samah M. Eldemery
    Citation: BMC Biotechnology 2024 24:41
    Content type: Research Published on:

  4. This research investigates the efficacy of a high-performance pilot-scale Internal Circulation Anaerobic Reactor inoculated with Granular Sludge (ICAGSR) for treating cattle slaughterhouse wastewater while con...

    Authors: Mohamed Saad Hellal, Hala M. El-Kamah and Hala Salah Doma
    Citation: BMC Biotechnology 2024 24:29
    Content type: Research Published on: