MSU scientist edits new journal on biomaterials and bioenergy

As the world looks to decrease its dependence on dwindling supplies of petroleum, interest in research on making products, energy and fuels from renewable materials -- plant biomass and municipal and livestock waste -- has skyrocketed.

A new journal, Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, offers scientists a publication to showcase and review novel bioeconomy research, demonstrations and education. Amar Mohanty, MSU associate professor of packaging, helped develop the journal and serves as its first editor-in-chief.

"We expect that the social, economic and political demands for biobased chemicals, material and energy will radically transform the chemical, plastic and biofuel industries," he said. "The principles of sustainability, ecoefficiency, industrial ecology and green chemistry and engineering will govern these changes. To maintain the expansion of knowledge and understanding in this field, results must be communicated widely. This journal will serve as a platform to integrate the growing science and engineering of biobased materials, chemical and bioenergy."

The first issue of the Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy presents fundamental research on biomaterials and bioenergy, including education for sustainability and the societal impact of converting an entire village to biomass energy sources. The overall idea of the new journal centers on sharing the knowledge required to grow the emerging bioeconomy.

Published by American Scientific Publishers, subscription information and selected content is available online.

"We look forward to sharing many inventions, discoveries and innovations in biomaterials and bioenergy research that will broadly propel the global drive toward reducing our dependence on petroleum and developing a sustainable, biobased economy," Mohanty said.