General Introduction
ENGINEERING Biomass is a leading international, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the fundamental science and engineering of sustainable biomass utilization. It is co-founded by Chinese Academy of Engineering, Higher Education Press, and Central South University of Forestry & Technology. The journal is published quarterly in English by Higher Education Press, both in print and online. Online versions are available at http://journal.hep.com.cn/eb
A checklist of special requirements for submission to ENGINEERING Biomass is provided below to save time from scanning the whole guide and to help re-check before submission.
Item | Requirement |
Type of Paper | Research full paper: 5000–8000 words |
Figures + Tables | Research full paper: ~8 (combined total) |
References | Reasonable number, appropriate to article type. |
Citations & References | Digital coding style. Group citations separated by comma or connected by hyphen. References listed in citation order. Journal names spelled out in full. An Endnote style file is provided. |
Running Title | Obligatory. Short version of the paper title (maximum 80 characters). |
Highlights | 3–5 bullet points. Each ≤ 85 characters including spaces. |
Graphical Abstract | Obligatory. See detailed specifications on Page [X]. |
Abstract | 150–250 words. |
Tables | Three-line style. |
Units | SI units preferred. Use “mol·L⁻¹” style. “ppb” or “ppm” is not acceptable. |
Copyright | (a) Authors must ensure all cited figures/tables are free from copyright infringement. |
Conclusion | Should not contain citations. |
Numbering | Each section, sub-section, and equation should be numbered. |
Map | Not encouraged due to time required for audit in accordance with publication laws and rules. |
Manuscript Size | ≤ 40 MB for plagiarism check. |
Types of Articles
The following types of articles can be submitted to the journal:
RESEARCH ARTICLE. Original research report. The total length of a manuscript including figures, tables and references must not exceed 8000 words.
REVIEW. An in-depth, critical overview of a specific topic within biomass engineering, providing historical context, summarizing recent breakthroughs, and outlining future directions. The format and length are more flexible than a research article.
LETTER. A concise, independent report representing a significant and urgent contribution to biomass science and engineering. It is not for preliminary results. It should be no more than 2000 words, cite at least 8 references, and include up to three figures and tables.
FEATURE COLUMNS. NEWS: Timely reports on high-profile global developments in biomass science, technology, policy, and major project implementations. COMMENTARY: Focused opinions on hot topics, emerging trends, or policy debates in the biomass field, aiming to stimulate discussion. Presentation of new data is not the primary purpose. PERSPECTIVE: Brief, accessible articles that provide new insights or a forward-looking viewpoint on a timely topic, with some research context. Others: EDITORIAL, HIGHLIGHTS, and other invited content may also be published.
Ethics in Publishing (Duties of Authors)
a. Reporting standards
Authors should present an accurate account of the work performed and an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data must be represented accurately. Articles must contain sufficient detail and references to allow others to replicate the work.
b. Data access and retention
Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review and should be prepared to retain such data for a reasonable time after publication.
c. Originality and plagiarism
Authors must ensure they have written entirely original works. Plagiarism in any form constitutes unethical behavior and is unacceptable.
d. Concurrent publication
Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal concurrently is unethical. Manuscripts must not have been published elsewhere in substantially similar form.
e. Acknowledgement of sources
Proper acknowledgement of the work of others must always be given. Information obtained privately must not be used without explicit written permission.
f. Authorship of the article
Authorship should be limited to those who made significant contributions. All co-authors must have approved the final version and agreed to its submission.
g. Hazards and human or animal subjects
If the work involves unusual hazards or the use of animal/human subjects, this must be clearly identified, along with statements of compliance with ethical guidelines and institutional approvals.
h. Fundamental errors in published work
Authors are obligated to promptly notify the journal of any significant error in their published work and cooperate in issuing a correction or retraction.
Conflicts of Interest
All submissions must include disclosure of any financial or personal relationships that could be viewed as presenting a potential conflict of interest.
Copyright Statement
All articles are published open access under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Copyright belongs to the authors, who are required to sign a copyright statement upon acceptance.
Preparation of Electronic Versions & Submission
Manuscripts should be submitted double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font with default margins. Include line numbers and page numbers (starting with the title page as page 1).
Submission proceeds totally online via the journal's submission system (URL to be determined). Original source files (not PDFs) are required. Correspondence is conducted by email.
Submission Requirements
a. Cover letter
A cover letter must accompany each submission, indicating the corresponding author's contact details and affiliations for all authors. Suggest the names and contact details of three potential reviewers (at least two international reviewers for contributors from China). The editors are not obliged to use these suggestions.
b. Research highlights
3 to 5 bullet points conveying the core findings. Each bullet point ≤ 85 characters (including spaces).
c. Manuscript for research full article
Required components: Title, Running title, Author names and affiliations, Highlights, Abstract, Keywords, Graphical Abstract, Main text (Introduction, Materials and methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions), Acknowledgements, References, Figure captions, Tables.
d. Manuscript for review articles
Should be divided into logical sections with an extensive reference list. Authors are strongly advised to contact the editors prior to submission to discuss the topic's suitability.
Manuscript Components: Detailed Specifications
a. Title
Explicit, descriptive, and brief (no more than 20 words). Avoid abbreviations.
b. Running title
Short version of the title (maximum 80 characters including space).
c. Author names and affiliations
Provide full names, affiliations (with full postal address and country), and clearly indicate the corresponding author with complete contact details.
d. Highlights
3 to 5 bullet points (max 85 chars each) summarizing the core findings.
e. Graphical abstract
Mandatory. A concise, pictorial summary submitted as a separate file.
Size: Minimum 6 cm (h) × 11 cm (w) at 300 dpi.
Format: TIFF, EPS, PDF, or MS Office files.
Content: Clear visual flow; minimal text/clutter; no additional “Graphical Abstract” label within the image.
f. Abstract
Concise and factual, 150-250 words. States purpose, principal results, and major conclusions. Avoid references and abbreviations where possible.
g. Keywords and speciality
Provide up to 6 keywords after the abstract. Select at least 3 specialties during online submission.
h. Text structure
Introduction: State objectives and provide adequate background.
Material and methods: Provide sufficient detail for reproducibility.
Results: Present clear and relevant results.
Discussion: Explore the significance of results, integrating them into the broader context.
Conclusions: Summarize primary conclusions in words.
i. Tables
Use three-line tables (no vertical lines).
Number with Roman numerals (Table I, Table II) and provide a title.
Define abbreviations in footnotes.
Submit each table on a separate page.
j. Figures
Number consecutively as Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc.
Ensure high quality, sharp, and good contrast.
Submit in native formats (e.g., Origin, Excel, TIFF, EPS) as separate files, not embedded in text.
Maps: Must be based on authorized standard maps and comply with national publishing regulations.
k. Formulae and equations
Typewritten, with symbols clearly identified. Use “Eq.” or “Eqs.” for abbreviation within text. Consider a Nomenclature section after the abstract if many symbols are used.
l. Supplementary materials
May be submitted if essential to the paper's scientific integrity (e.g., large datasets, additional graphics). Subject to peer review and file size limits.
Acknowledgements
List contributions, credits, and financial support. Obtain permission to include names of individuals.
Compliance with ethics guidelines
Declare conflicts of interest and confirm compliance with all relevant ethical guidelines and institutional approvals.
Citations and references
In-text: Numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals in brackets, e.g., [1], [2, 3], [5-7].
Reference List: Listed in citation order. Journal names in full and italic. Volume numbers in bold.
Example (Journal): Smith J, Doe A. Advanced pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Engineering Biomass, 2024, 1(1): 10-20.
Example (Book): Brown T. Biorefining Principles. Berlin: Springer, 2020.
Example (Online): Green C. AI-driven optimization of biomass supply chains. Engineering Biomass, 2024. [Epub ahead of print] doi: xx.xxxx/eb.2024.xxxxx
Notification, Proofreading and Production
The corresponding author will be notified of acceptance. Proofs will be sent and must be returned within 48 hours. Corrections at this stage are limited to typographical errors; no new information can be inserted.