From Organic Wastes to Bioresources: Toward a Circular Economy

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 10728

Special Issue Editors

Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Autonomous University of Madrid, Av. Francisco Tomás y Valiente 7, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Interests: bioremediation; white rot fungi; organic pollutants; pesticides; antibiotics; soil chemistry; soil biology; organic amendments
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Organic wastes are produced in large amounts worldwide. Considering the growing world population, increased urbanization rates and the consumer behavior of industrialized societies, in the near future, a significant increment is expected in the volume of organic wastes generated by society. Since landfill of these wastes poses significant environmental and economic threats, such as greenhouse gas emission, leaching of pollutants, loss of habitats, and human health risks, scientific, political, and social efforts are concentrated in reusing, recycling or energetically revalorizing these biodegradable organic wastes. The 3R (reduce, recycle and reuse) paradigm is the base of the circular economy model promoted for the achievement of a sustainable development of modern societies. The alternatives of organic waste management offering more economical and environmental advantages would be those related to the transformation of organic wastes or the recovery of some of its components to be utilized in the production of energy, chemicals or materials that can be used in the industrial, agricultural, and environmental sectors adding value to the organic wastes beyond the cost of the energy needed to process its transformation. In addition, the employment of organic waste-based materials in bioremediation technologies has gained an increasing scientific interest, since it represents a low-cost and environmentally friendly strategy.

In this context, this Special Issue aims to bring together studies that deal with processes to transform organic wastes into something useful: energy, chemicals or materials that can be used, among others, in industrial processes, agriculture or environmental remediation strategies. It is open to both original research articles and review articles covering all the relevant progress in these fields (though is not limited to the following):

  • Waste treatment technologies for energy recovery such as biogas and biodiesel;
  • Waste to energy industry: state of the art;
  • Agricultural re-use of organic wastes: composting and biostimulant production;
  • Environmental remediation strategies based on raw or transformed organic wastes;

Biomaterials and green nanoparticles from organic wastes for medical, environmental remediation and agricultural applications.

Dr. Laura Delgado-Moreno
Dr. Carlos García Delgado
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1119 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Different Spent Mushroom Substrates to Bioremediate Soils Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons
by Rafael Antón-Herrero, Carlos García-Delgado, Natalia Baena, Begoña Mayans, Laura Delgado-Moreno and Enrique Eymar
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7720; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157720 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2189
Abstract
Bioremediation techniques are being developed as substitutes for physical–chemical methodologies that are expensive and not sustainable. For example, using the agricultural waste spent mushroom substrate (SMS) which contains valuable microbiota for soil bioremediation. In this work, SMSs of four cultivated fungal species, Pleurotus [...] Read more.
Bioremediation techniques are being developed as substitutes for physical–chemical methodologies that are expensive and not sustainable. For example, using the agricultural waste spent mushroom substrate (SMS) which contains valuable microbiota for soil bioremediation. In this work, SMSs of four cultivated fungal species, Pleurotus eryngii, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Agaricus bisporus were evaluated for the bioremediation of soils contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). The bioremediation test was carried out by mixing the four different SMSs with the TPH-contaminated soil in comparison with an unamended soil control to assess its natural attenuation. To determine the most efficient bioremediation strategy, hydrolase, dehydrogenase, and ligninolytic activities, ergosterol content, and percentage of TPHs degradation (total and by chains) were determined at the end of the assay at 40 days. The application of SMS significantly improved the degradation of TPHs with respect to the control. The most effective spent mushroom substrate to degrade TPHs was A. bisporus, followed by L. edodes and P. ostreatus. Similar results were obtained for the removal of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The results showed the effectiveness of SMS to remove aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons from C10 to C35. This work demonstrates an alternative to valorizing an abundant agricultural waste as SMS to bioremediate contaminated soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Organic Wastes to Bioresources: Toward a Circular Economy)
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20 pages, 2135 KiB  
Article
Application of Biochar for the Restoration of Metal(loid)s Contaminated Soils
by Marta Graziano, Francisco José Martín-Peinado and Laura Delgado-Moreno
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 1918; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041918 - 12 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1472
Abstract
Biochar has recently aroused great interest for the restoration of contaminated soils since it improves soil properties and induces the immobilization of pollutants. This study evaluates the use of biochar from plant pruning, applied as an amendment, for immobilizing metal(loid)s in a highly [...] Read more.
Biochar has recently aroused great interest for the restoration of contaminated soils since it improves soil properties and induces the immobilization of pollutants. This study evaluates the use of biochar from plant pruning, applied as an amendment, for immobilizing metal(loid)s in a highly contaminated soil as well as for reducing the phytotoxicity of these pollutants by promoting natural revegetation. For this purpose, a bioassay with Trifolium pratense L. was used to test the effectiveness of the soil amendment in greenhouse conditions. Three treatments were carried out including soil contaminated with metal(loid)s (RA), and this soil was amended with biochar at different dosage: 4% (RA4B) and 8% (RA8B). A non-contaminated soil (NC) from a nearby area not affected by contamination was used as a control. The results show that biochar increased soil pH by several units depending on the dose used, 8% being the most effective one. Biochar treatments also reduced soluble and bioavailable forms of Zn and Cu. Likewise, phytotoxicity was significantly reduced, promoting seed germination and biomass with plant growth values similar to the non-polluted soil. In light of the results obtained, the evaluation of the bioremediation potential of biochar under field conditions can be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Organic Wastes to Bioresources: Toward a Circular Economy)
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15 pages, 2737 KiB  
Article
Reuse of Pruning Waste from Subtropical Fruit Trees and Urban Gardens as a Source of Nutrients: Changes in the Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties of the Soil
by Marino Pedro Reyes-Martín, Irene Ortiz-Bernad, Antonio M. Lallena, Layla M. San-Emeterio, M. Lourdes Martínez-Cartas and Emilia Fernández Ondoño
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010193 - 25 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2754
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted on the Andalusian coast (Granada, Southern Spain) to study the time course of nutrient release into the soil after the addition of bagged pruning waste from subtropical orchard trees (avocado, cherimoya, and mango) and urban garden waste over [...] Read more.
A field experiment was conducted on the Andalusian coast (Granada, Southern Spain) to study the time course of nutrient release into the soil after the addition of bagged pruning waste from subtropical orchard trees (avocado, cherimoya, and mango) and urban garden waste over three two-year periods. N, P, and K concentrations were greater in the garden waste, whilst avocado and cherimoya pruning waste registered the highest values for Mg. In general, micronutrient contents were low in all waste, especially Cu. Macronutrient release followed a three-phase dynamic: fast initial release, intermediate stabilization, and final increase. Garden waste showed a similar time course in all three trees and released greater concentrations of K and P. The annual decomposition rate factor k was negative for N and Ca in the avocado tree, indicating strong biological activity in this plot. Avocado, cherimoya, and garden waste showed a good microbial degradation, improving soil quality by increasing carbon and nitrogen contents as well as soil microbial activity. As for the mango tree, its special microclimatic conditions appeared to favor waste photodegradation, thus eliminating nutrients that were not incorporated into the soil. Soil enzymatic activities increased in the avocado and cherimoya trees with the addition of all waste. In the mango tree, only an increase in urease was detected after the addition of garden waste. Our results suggest that the time course of organic waste in different subtropical trees grown on similar soils is significantly conditioned by the microclimatic characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Organic Wastes to Bioresources: Toward a Circular Economy)
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Review

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17 pages, 2205 KiB  
Review
Phosphorus Dynamics in the Soil–Plant–Environment Relationship in Cropping Systems: A Review
by Rodolfo Lizcano-Toledo, Marino Pedro Reyes-Martín, Luisella Celi and Emilia Fernández-Ondoño
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(23), 11133; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311133 - 24 Nov 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3449
Abstract
This work performs a review of the relevant aspects of agronomic dynamics of phosphorus (P) in the soil–plant relationship as a community (crop ecophysiology), the effect of environmental conditions and global warming on the redistribution and translocation of P in some crop, and [...] Read more.
This work performs a review of the relevant aspects of agronomic dynamics of phosphorus (P) in the soil–plant relationship as a community (crop ecophysiology), the effect of environmental conditions and global warming on the redistribution and translocation of P in some crop, and the use of good agricultural practices with the aim of improving the efficiency of the element. The research focuses on Northern Europe, North-Eastern Asia, Oceania, North America, and the tropical area of Latin America. This review covers general research and specific works on P found in the literature, 70% of which date from the last 10 years, as well as some older studies that have been of great relevance as references and starting points for more recent investigations. The dynamics of P in a system implies taking into account genetic aspects of the plant, component of the soil–plant–fertilizer–environment relationship, and use of technologies at the molecular level. In addition, in a climate change scenario, the availability of this element can significantly change depending on whether it is labile or non-labile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Organic Wastes to Bioresources: Toward a Circular Economy)
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