Biopolymers or renewable polymers such as cellulose, lignin, starch, pectin, chitin, and xylan are the abundantly available polymers in nature in the form of plant biomass or other biological sources. Their importance for various applications (biofuels, nanobiocomposites, biomedicine, etc.) has been analyzed for many years and still continues. There are different ways to convert these biopolymers into various chemicals, fuels, and materials for the benefit of our society. Still there are challenges to develop new methodologies or improved processes for efficient and economic utilization as well as conversion of these biopolymers.

We thus invite researchers to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will increase the basic subject knowledge and may lead to the development of new technologies and innovations. We are particularly interested in articles describing the new or modified processes of characterization/degradations of these polymers for the production of fuels, chemicals, or other value added products. We are also interested in the articles which describe the preparations of new bio- or nanobiocomposites from these materials, new or improved catalysts (bio or chemical) for degradation of biopolymers, new or improved processes of preparations of nanobiopolymers/nanoparticles, and so forth. Review articles on recent applications of these materials are welcome.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Polysaccharides such as cellulose, xylan, and chitin (biological/chemical degradation, applications)
• Lignin (degradation and production of chemicals and fuels)
• Enzymes involved in biopolymer degradation
• Catalytic (e.g., solid acid) degradation of biopolymers
• Advanced applications of starch, chitin, and pectin
• Microbial fermentation of biopolymers or their sugars
• Chemical conversion of biopolymers to fuels and chemicals
• Biocomposites/nanobiocomposites materials and films
• Nanoparticles or nanobiopolymers preparations and applications
• Biochemical/biophysical characterization of biopolymers
• Carbon fibers from biopolymers
• Medical applications of biopolymers (e.g., drug delivery, tissue engineering)