Carbohydrate Polymers Submission Guide: Requirements & What Editors Want

Step 1: Prepare required files

Your submission needs these files:

• Main manuscript (.docx format, double-spaced, line numbers)
• Figures (separate files, minimum 600 DPI for photos, 1200 DPI for line art)
• Supporting information (.pdf or .docx)
• Completed copyright transfer form
• Cover letter addressing editor priorities

Step 2: Format your manuscript

Carbohydrate Polymers follows standard Elsevier formatting:

• Title page with all author information
• Abstract (250 words maximum)
• Keywords (6-8 terms)
• Main text sections: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion, Conclusions
• References in numbered format
• Tables and figure captions at the end

Step 3: Access the submission portal

Submit through Elsevier's Editorial Manager at editorialmanager.com/carbpol. Create an author account if needed. The portal guides you through required fields but doesn't catch common formatting errors.

Step 4: Complete submission forms

The portal requires:

• Article type selection (Research Article or Review)
• Subject area classification from dropdown menus
• Funding information and conflict declarations
• Suggested reviewers (3-5 experts, not collaborators)
• Cover letter upload

Step 5: Upload files in correct order

Upload sequence matters in Editorial Manager:

1. Main manuscript file
2. Figure files (labeled Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.)
3. Supporting information
4. Cover letter
5. Author forms

Step 6: Review and submit

The portal generates a PDF proof of your submission. Check figure placement, formatting, and completeness before final submission. You can't easily modify files after submission without editorial permission.

File naming requirements: Use descriptive names like "Smith_CarbohydratePolymers_Figure1.tiff" rather than generic names. The editorial system tracks files by name.

Most technical rejections happen because authors skip the formatting requirements or upload incomplete files. Take time to review Elsevier's author guidelines before starting your submission.

Your cover letter should emphasize functional advantages and application relevance in the first paragraph:

Dear Dr. [Editor Name],

We submit our manuscript "[Title]" for consideration in Carbohydrate Polymers. Our research demonstrates that [specific carbohydrate polymer] provides [quantified functional advantage] compared to [current materials] in [specific application]. This improvement derives from [mechanism related to carbohydrate structure].

Our key findings include: [2-3 specific results with numbers]. The [characterization method] data confirm [structure-property relationship]. Application testing under [realistic conditions] shows [performance metrics].

This work addresses the need for [specific problem in field] by leveraging [unique carbohydrate properties]. The results provide both mechanistic insights and practical solutions for [application area].

We believe this manuscript fits Carbohydrate Polymers' focus on functional carbohydrate-based materials with demonstrated applications.

Sincerely,

[Author names]

Keep it under 200 words total. Avoid generic phrases about "contributing to the literature." Focus on specific functional benefits and quantified results.

For more examples and detailed guidance, see our complete cover letter template guide with filled examples.

Chemical characterization complete:

• [ ] NMR spectra confirm structure (1H, 13C minimum)
• [ ] FTIR confirms functional groups
• [ ] Molecular weight and distribution measured
• [ ] Degree of substitution/modification quantified
• [ ] Thermal properties characterized (Tg, melting, degradation)

Functional properties tested:

• [ ] Mechanical properties relevant to application
• [ ] Barrier properties if relevant (water, gas, etc.)
• [ ] Biocompatibility data for biomedical applications
• [ ] Stability under storage/use conditions

Application demonstration:

• [ ] Testing in realistic conditions, not just ideal lab environment
• [ ] Comparison to existing materials/controls
• [ ] Performance metrics quantified
• [ ] Structure-function relationships explained

Manuscript formatting:

• [ ] Follows Elsevier guidelines exactly
• [ ] Figures are publication-quality and properly labeled
• [ ] References formatted correctly
• [ ] Supporting information includes all raw data
• [ ] Word count appropriate for article type

Submission files ready:

• [ ] Main manuscript in .docx format
• [ ] Figures as separate high-resolution files
• [ ] Supporting information complete
• [ ] Cover letter emphasizes functional advantages
• [ ] All author forms completed

Don't skip the stability testing. Editors frequently reject papers that don't address polymer degradation or performance under application conditions.

1. Recent Carbohydrate Polymers research articles and article-format expectations
2. Manusights editorial synthesis based on common polymer-journal fit and review patterns