Journal Guide
Publishing in Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide
Catalysts for sustainability: environmental remediation and clean energy
Should you submit here?
Submit if present catalyst showing exceptional performance. Be careful if novel catalyst synthesis or comprehensive characterization alone insufficient.
Best fit if
Present catalyst showing exceptional performance
Not ideal if
Novel catalyst synthesis or comprehensive characterization alone insufficient
Also compare
21.1
Impact Factor (2024)
~30-35%
Acceptance Rate
~100-140 days median
Time to First Decision
Submission guide
Applied Catalysis B Submission Guide: Requirements & Editor Tips
Applied Catalysis B is a highly selective environmental catalysis journal. Here is what editors expect on scope, submission setup, cover letter.
Journal assessment
Is Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy a Good Journal? Impact Factor, Comparison, and Fit Verdict
Applied Catalysis B fit verdict with key metrics, comparison to ACS Catalysis and Journal of Catalysis, and practical guidance for environmental and energy catalysis authors.
Desk rejection
How to Avoid Desk Rejection at Applied Catalysis B (2026)
How to avoid desk rejection at Applied Catalysis B: what editors screen for in environmental fit, catalyst proof, and realistic conditions.
What Appl. Catal. B Publishes
Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy published by Elsevier is the premier journal for catalysis addressing environmental and energy challenges. With JIF 21.1 and Q1 ranking in Catalysis & Chemical Engineering, ACB emphasizes novel catalysts with demonstrated environmental or energy applications. The journal publishes research on environmental remediation catalysts, photocatalysis for pollution control, CO2 conversion, and catalysis for sustainable energy. Critically: ACB values catalysts with functional performance demonstrated. Pure materials characterization without catalytic performance is less competitive. The journal seeks papers showing how catalysts solve real environmental or energy problems.
- Photocatalysis: pollutant degradation, water purification, hydrogen production
- CO2 conversion: reduction, utilization, synthetic fuels from CO2
- Environmental remediation: VOC oxidation, pollutant destruction, air treatment
- Water treatment: contaminant removal, disinfection, water splitting
- Catalytic mechanisms: active site identification, reaction pathways
- Catalyst design: structure-activity relationships, material optimization
- Heterogeneous catalysis: solid catalysts, surface chemistry
- Energy applications: hydrogen generation, fuel production, electricity generation
Editor Insight
“Applied Catalysis B publishes catalysts solving environmental and energy challenges. We seek novel catalysts with superior performance, rigorous characterization, and clear mechanistic understanding. The best papers demonstrate practical applicability in realistic environmental or energy contexts.”
What Appl. Catal. B Editors Look For
Novel catalyst with superior environmental or energy performance
Present catalyst showing exceptional performance. Superior activity? Better selectivity? Improved durability? Quantify performance: turnover frequency, conversion rates, efficiency. Show clear performance advantage over existing catalysts.
Complete catalyst characterization revealing active site and mechanism
Thoroughly characterize catalyst structure: XPS for surface chemistry, microscopy for morphology, spectroscopy for active site identification. Explain mechanism: how does structure generate catalytic activity?
Catalytic performance under realistic environmental or energy conditions
Test catalysts in realistic contexts: actual wastewater for environmental catalysts, relevant substrates for energy catalysts. Lab-scale testing in idealized conditions insufficient. Real conditions prove practical value.
Stability and durability data for practical applications
Catalysts must function reliably over time. Show cycling stability, resistance to poisoning, and long-term activity retention. Short-term activity without durability has limited practical impact.
Mechanistic understanding of catalytic reaction pathway
Explain catalytic mechanism at molecular level. What are elementary steps? How does catalyst facilitate each step? What's rate-limiting? Mechanistic insight stronger than empirical performance alone.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Appl. Catal. B's editorial review:
Catalyst characterization without demonstrating catalytic performance
Novel catalyst synthesis or comprehensive characterization alone insufficient. ACB expects functional demonstration. Show catalytic activity with quantified metrics. Why is this catalyst useful?
Catalytic testing only in idealized lab conditions
Real environmental/energy applications involve complex matrices: wastewater contains multiple contaminants, reactors have different conditions. Test in realistic conditions showing practical applicability.
Performance claims without comparison to state-of-the-art catalysts
Marginal improvements over known catalysts are weak. Show significant performance advantages (higher activity, better selectivity, improved stability). Compare directly with best existing catalysts.
Lack of durability and stability data
Catalysts working perfectly for hours but degrading rapidly lack practical value. Show cycling stability over extended operation. Address deactivation mechanisms and prevention.
No mechanistic explanation for observed catalytic performance
Papers reporting activity without explaining mechanism are less impactful. Identify active sites and explain catalytic steps. Surface science understanding valuable.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against Appl. Catal. B's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from Appl. Catal. B Authors
Photocatalysis and CO2 conversion are highest impact areas
Research on photocatalytic degradation, CO2 reduction, or photocatalytic hydrogen production addresses global sustainability. These topics receive strong editorial and citation attention.
Non-noble metal catalysts replacing precious metals gain prominence
Catalysts using earth-abundant elements (iron, nickel, copper, cobalt) replacing platinum or palladium increasingly valued for cost and sustainability.
Operando characterization revealing mechanism during reaction
In situ spectroscopy during catalytic reaction reveals active sites and reaction intermediates. Operando data provide exceptional mechanistic insight highly valued.
Environmental application validation strengthens impact
Testing catalysts on actual contaminated water or air samples demonstrates real-world applicability. Field pilot studies provide strongest evidence of practical value.
Computational modeling predicting catalyst performance valued
Density functional theory calculations predicting catalytic activity, combined with experimental validation, demonstrate sophisticated materials design approach.
The Appl. Catal. B Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep7,000-10,000 words with 6-8 figures. Include catalyst synthesis/characterization (XPS, microscopy, spectroscopy), catalytic performance testing in realistic conditions, stability/durability data, mechanistic discussion, and comparison with state-of-the-art. Supporting: characterization details, catalytic curves, durability data.
Submission via Elsevier system
Day 0Submit at https://www.editorialmanager.com/acb/. Required: manuscript emphasizing catalytic novelty and environmental/energy significance, figures showing catalyst structure and catalytic performance, cover letter highlighting performance advantages.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses catalyst novelty, performance significance, and environmental/energy relevance. Papers lacking catalytic performance or environmental context face lower priority. Moderate desk rejection ~30-40%.
Peer review
100-140 days2-3 catalysis experts assess catalyst design novelty, performance validity, mechanistic understanding, and practical significance. Reviewers scrutinize catalytic data carefully. First decision 100-140 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 4-8 weeksRevisions often request additional catalytic testing, mechanistic explanation, or stability data. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.
Appl. Catal. B by the Numbers
| 2024 Impact Factor | 19.5 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 20.2 |
| Acceptance rate | ~30-35% |
| Desk rejection rate | ~30-40% |
| Median first decision | ~120 days |
| Open access option | $3,200 USD |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Founded | 1992 |
Before you submit
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Article Types
Research Article
7,000-10,000 wordsNovel catalyst with performance and mechanistic data
Review
10,000-15,000 wordsComprehensive catalysis technology review
Short Communication
3,500-5,000 wordsBrief catalyst discovery
Landmark Appl. Catal. B Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Photocatalytic water splitting (TiO2, 1970s+) - water purification from sunlight
- Heterogeneous catalysts for environmental remediation (1990s+) - pollution abatement
- CO2 reduction catalysts (2000s+) - converting CO2 to useful chemicals
- Non-noble metal catalysts for energy (2010s+) - sustainable energy production
- Single-atom catalysts (2010s+) - maximized active site efficiency
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Primary Fields
Related Journal Guides
All journal guidesLatest Journal-Specific Guides
- Submission guideApplied Catalysis B Submission Guide: Requirements & Editor TipsApplied Catalysis B is a highly selective environmental catalysis journal. Here is what editors expect on scope, submission setup, cover letter.
- Journal assessmentIs Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy a Good Journal? Impact Factor, Comparison, and Fit VerdictApplied Catalysis B fit verdict with key metrics, comparison to ACS Catalysis and Journal of Catalysis, and practical guidance for environmental and energy catalysis authors.
- Desk rejectionHow to Avoid Desk Rejection at Applied Catalysis B (2026)How to avoid desk rejection at Applied Catalysis B: what editors screen for in environmental fit, catalyst proof, and realistic conditions.
- Review timelineApplied Catalysis B Review Time: What Authors Can Actually ExpectApplied Catalysis B publishes unusually clear timing metrics, but the real submission issue is still whether the catalyst solves an energy or environmental problem under believable conditions.
More Guides for This Journal
- Acceptance rateApplied Catalysis B Acceptance Rate: What Authors Can UseApplied Catalysis B does not disclose an official acceptance rate. The editorial filter that matters is whether your catalysis paper closes the loop from mechanism to environmental or energy application.
- Impact factorApplied Catalysis B Impact Factor 2026: 21.1, Q1Applied Catalysis B impact factor is 21.1 (2024 JCR). #1 ranked in catalysis. 18-22% acceptance, $3,500 APC.
- Publishing costsApplied Catalysis B APC and Open Access: Current Elsevier Pricing, Acceptance Reality, and When Gold OA Is Worth ItApplied Catalysis B APC is USD 5,980. Hybrid Elsevier model, 13% acceptance, fast review, and route tradeoffs.
- Submission processApplied Catalysis B Submission Process: What Happens and What Editors Judge FirstA practical guide to the Applied Catalysis B submission process, covering what editors screen for first and what to fix before upload.
- Manuscript prepApplied Catalysis B Cover Letter: What Editors Actually Need to SeeApplied Catalysis B (renamed to Environment and Energy in 2024) requires applied relevance. Your cover letter must connect the catalysis to a real environmental or energy problem, not just report incremental catalyst optimization.
- Publishing guideApplied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy Formatting Requirements: Complete Author GuideApplied Catalysis B recommends an 8,000-word limit for research articles. Highlights (3-5 bullets) and a graphical abstract are both required. References use Elsevier numbered style with square brackets, and both Word and LaTeX are accepted.
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Reference library
Compare Appl. Catal. B with the broader publishing context
This journal guide is the best starting point for Appl. Catal. B. The reference library covers the surrounding questions authors usually ask next: whether the package is ready, what drives desk rejection, how neighboring journals compare, and what the submission constraints look like across the field.
Checklist system / operational asset
Elite Submission Checklist
A flagship pre-submission checklist that turns journal-fit, desk-reject, and package-quality lessons into one operational final-pass audit.
Flagship report / decision support
Desk Rejection Report
A canonical desk-rejection report that organizes the most common editorial failure modes, what they look like, and how to prevent them.
Dataset / reference hub
Journal Intelligence Dataset
A canonical journal dataset that combines selectivity posture, review timing, submission requirements, and Manusights fit signals in one citeable reference asset.
Dataset / reference guide
Peer Review Timelines by Journal
Reference-grade journal timeline data that authors, labs, and writing centers can cite when discussing realistic review timing.
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