Overview
Lignin Research welcomes submissions that advance fundamental understanding, technological innovation, and industrial applications of lignin.
This page provides practical guidance for preparing and submitting manuscripts to the journal. Authors should read these instructions carefully before submission and ensure that all required files, declarations, and supporting materials are complete.
For journal-specific policies, including Article Processing Charges, authors should refer to the Journal Policies. For publisher-wide requirements on publication ethics, authorship, competing interests, research integrity, data transparency, peer review, corrections, appeals, copyright, licensing, open access, and use of artificial intelligence tools, please refer to the NEW HORIZON PRESS LIMITED Publishing Policies.
1. Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal's online submission system: https://mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/lr
Authors may use the Manuscript Template for Initial Submission when preparing a new submission. Please do not use the initial submission template for revised manuscripts unless instructed by the editorial office.
Authors using EndNote or other reference management software should ensure that references are formatted according to the journal style before submission.
Click to Download EndNote Style File
Lignin Research publishes a range of article types that address fundamental understanding, technological innovation, and industrial applications of lignin across chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, energy, and environmental sciences. The recommended word counts and limits on figures, tables, references, and authorship are intended as general guidance. The Editors may consider exceptions where the length or format is justified by the scope, complexity, or scientific value of the submission.
Review
Review Articles are generally expected to be 5,000–10,000 words in length and should include fewer than 10 figures and/or tables.
A Review Article should offer a critical and integrative assessment of recent progress in a clearly defined lignin-related research area. Rather than simply summarizing existing literature, Reviews should synthesize major developments, evaluate key breakthroughs, identify unresolved scientific or technical challenges, and discuss emerging trends. Authors are encouraged to provide a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature from approximately the past 5–10 years, and to incorporate interdisciplinary perspectives where appropriate.
Original Research
Original Research Articles are generally expected to be around 6,000 words in length and should include fewer than 10 figures and/or tables.
An Original Research Article should present original findings that make a meaningful contribution to the field of lignin. Submissions should be based on a clearly defined research question, rigorous experimental, computational, observational, or analytical methods, robust data analysis, and conclusions that are well supported by the evidence. The main text should include sufficient materials and methods information to allow readers to understand and evaluate the study. Additional methodological details, supporting analyses, or information necessary to substantiate the conclusions may be provided as supplementary materials.
Rapid Report
Rapid Reports present important new research results of broad significance to lignin research and related fields. They should include an abstract, an introductory paragraph, up to six figures or tables, and a reference list of normally no more than 80 references.
Materials and Methods may be included in the main text or in the Supplementary Information, which should also include information needed to support the paper's conclusions.
Perspective
Perspective Articles provide focused, forward-looking discussions of important or emerging topics in lignin research and related fields. They are intended to highlight recent exciting research developments, explain their broader significance, and place them within a wider scientific, technological, industrial, environmental, or interdisciplinary context.
Perspectives should not primarily discuss the authors' own work, but should provide context for important findings within the field or explain their potential interdisciplinary significance.
Commentary
Commentary Articles are generally expected to be around 1,000 words in length, with approximately one figure or table and fewer than 10 references.
A Commentary Article should address timely scientific debates, policy issues, methodological questions, or recent high-impact publications in leading journals or in areas relevant to the journal's scope. Commentaries may critique, extend, contextualize, or respond to important findings and are intended to promote scholarly dialogue. Because Commentaries usually express a focused personal or expert viewpoint, they should normally have no more than two authors, except in rare cases where additional authorship is clearly justified. Commentaries may be peer reviewed at the discretion of the Editors.
News
News Articles should normally be 500–1,000 words in length, be written by one or two authors, and include fewer than five references.
The News section provides concise, authoritative overviews of the latest significant developments in lignin research and related fields. News Articles should be based on research articles published within the previous three months, important findings presented at recent scientific conferences, or other timely developments of clear relevance to the journal's readership. News contributions are typically invited, but unsolicited submissions may also be considered by the Editors.
Correspondence
Correspondence Articles are generally expected to be around 300 words in length, should normally include no figures or tables, and should cite fewer than five references.
Correspondence provides brief, focused commentary on articles published in Lignin Research within the previous six months, or on emerging scientific, technical, industrial, environmental, or policy issues relevant to lignin research and related fields. Correspondence should normally have no more than two authors.
3. Manuscript Preparation
3.1 General Structure
·Title page
·Abstract
·Keywords, usually 3–10
·Introduction
·Materials and methods, or equivalent methodological section
·Results and discussion, or separate Results and Discussion sections where appropriate
·Conclusions
·Author contributions
·Acknowledgments
·Funding
·Competing interests
·Data availability
·Ethical statements
·References
·Supplementary materials, where applicable
The structure may vary depending on article type. Rapid Reports, Perspectives, Commentaries, News Articles, and Correspondence may use a more flexible structure if appropriate.
3.2 Title Page
The title page should include a concise and informative title, full author names, complete institutional affiliations, corresponding author details, and 3–10 keywords. Author names and affiliations entered in the submission system should match the manuscript exactly.
3.3 Abstract
Original Research Articles, Rapid Reports, Review Articles, and most full-length submissions should include an unstructured abstract of up to 250 words.
3.4 Graphical Abstract and Highlights
Authors are expected to provide a Graphical Abstract and Highlights at initial submission where required. The Graphical Abstract should visually summarize the main topic, approach, or finding of the article. Highlights should be short, clear, non-technical, and should not repeat sentences from the abstract.
3.5 Introduction
The Introduction should explain the background, research context, unresolved problems, and rationale for the study. It should identify the knowledge gap or practical challenge addressed by the manuscript and indicate how the work contributes to the field.
3.6 Materials and Methods
For studies involving chemical synthesis, biomass processing, catalytic reactions, materials characterization, computational modeling, simulations, or large-scale datasets, authors should describe the experimental design, workflow, preprocessing or sample preparation, analytical methods, validation strategy, and relevant limitations clearly.
3.7 Results and Discussion
Results should be presented clearly and logically. The Discussion should interpret findings in relation to the research question, existing literature, methodological limitations, and implications for future research or practice.
3.8 Conclusions
The Conclusion should summarize the main findings and explain their significance. It may identify implications, limitations, recommendations, or future research directions.
3.9 Abbreviations
Non-standard abbreviations should be defined at first mention in the abstract and again at first mention in the main text if necessary. Authors should use abbreviations sparingly and consistently.
3.10 Electronic Supplementary Information
Supplementary materials may include additional figures or tables, extended methods, technical details, datasets, code descriptions, questionnaires, or additional analyses. Supplementary figures and tables should be cited in the main text and numbered consecutively.
4. Cover Letter
A cover letter should accompany each submission. It should include the manuscript title, article type, whether the manuscript is an original submission or resubmission, a brief statement of the main contribution, confirmation that all authors approved the submission, confirmation that the work has not been published or submitted elsewhere, disclosure of reused materials, confirmation of required permissions, a competing interests statement, and any information that may help the Editors assess the manuscript.
5. Initial Submission
For initial submissions, authors should upload the cover letter, manuscript file, figures and tables, supplementary materials, consent to publish form where required, ethics approval or related documentation where required, and data, code, protocol, or repository information where relevant. The manuscript should include continuous line numbers and page numbers.
6. Submission of Revised Manuscripts
For revised manuscripts, authors should normally provide a point-by-point response letter, a marked version showing changes, a clean version, high-resolution figure files where applicable, editable tables, and revised supplementary materials where applicable. The response letter should address every reviewer and editor comment clearly.
7. Research Reporting and Transparency
Lignin Research supports complete, accurate, and transparent research reporting. Where relevant, authors should follow recognized reporting guidelines, including CONSORT, PRISMA, STROBE, RECORD, MOOSE, ARRIVE, CHERRIES, CODE-EHR, and SAGER. Authors may consult the EQUATOR Network for additional reporting guidelines and checklists.
8. Figures and Tables
Figures and tables should be clear, accurate, and understandable without excessive reliance on the main text. Figures should be numbered consecutively, composite figures should be labeled clearly, and lettering should be consistent and readable. Tables should be provided in editable format rather than as images. Authors should use concise table titles, define abbreviations in table notes, ensure that table data match the text, and cite each table in the main text.
9. References and Citations
Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of references. Every reference cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and every item in the reference list must be cited in the text. References should be cited in the text using numbered citations in square brackets and listed numerically according to their order of citation. Authors are encouraged to use EndNote or another reference management tool.
10. Data, Software, and Protocol Availability
The journal encourages authors to make data, software, code, models, experimental protocols, analytical methods, characterization data, and other research materials available wherever appropriate and legally possible. For original research articles, a Data Availability statement is required. Authors should explain where the data supporting the findings can be accessed and under what conditions.
For publisher-wide data availability and transparency requirements, please refer to the NEW HORIZON PRESS LIMITED Publishing Policies.
11. Ethical Statements
Authors must include ethical statements where relevant. If a particular ethical issue does not apply to the study, authors should state “Not applicable.” For detailed requirements on research ethics, consent, privacy, competing interests, and publication integrity, please refer to the NEW HORIZON PRESS LIMITED Publishing Policies.
12. Disclosure of AI Tool Use
Authors must disclose relevant use of artificial intelligence tools in preparing a manuscript. AI tools must not be listed as authors. For the publisher's policy on AI use, please refer to the NEW HORIZON PRESS LIMITED Publishing Policies.
13. Language Quality
Authors should submit manuscripts written in clear and comprehensible English. Authors who are not confident about the English quality of their manuscript are encouraged to seek assistance from a qualified English-speaking colleague, professional editor, or language editing service before submission. Use of a language editing service does not guarantee acceptance.
14. Production After Acceptance
14.1 Proof Correction
After acceptance, the corresponding author will receive instructions for checking the article proof online. Authors should review the proof carefully and return corrections within the required timeframe. Proof corrections should be limited to typographical errors, formatting issues, and essential factual corrections.
14.2 Article Processing Charges
Article Processing Charges and any related payment, waiver, or discount information are governed by the journal's Journal Policies. Authors should consult the Journal Policies for the current APC requirements before submission and after acceptance. If any information differs between this For Authors page and the Journal Policies, the Journal Policies shall prevail.
14.3 Copyright, Licensing, and Open Access
For copyright, licensing, and open access requirements, please refer to the journal's Journal Policies and the NEW HORIZON PRESS LIMITED Publishing Policies.
15. Permissions for Third-Party Materials
Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce or adapt any third-party material included in the manuscript, including figures, tables, photographs, illustrations, maps, database graphics, screenshots, substantial text excerpts, and copyrighted data products. If permission is not required under the source license, authors should still cite the source and comply with the license terms.
16. Pre-submission Checklist
Before submitting, authors should confirm that the manuscript fits the scope of Lignin Research; the correct article type has been selected; all authors have approved the submission; all author and affiliation information is complete; the abstract and keywords are included; figures and tables are cited in order and prepared clearly; supplementary materials are included where needed; references are complete and accurate; data availability, ethics, consent, competing interests, funding, AI-use disclosures, and permissions are included where applicable; the manuscript includes line numbers and page numbers; and the cover letter is complete.
17. Contact
For questions about manuscript submission or journal requirements, please contact the editorial office:
Lignin Research Editorial Office
Email: lr@the-newpress.com
For publisher-level policy questions, please contact:
NEW HORIZON PRESS LIMITED
Email: office@the-newpress.com