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Processes
Special Issues
Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste
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Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Green Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 April 2024 | Viewed by 13912

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Andrey A. Kovalev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM, Moscow 109428, Russia
Interests: biogas; anaerobic digestion of organic waste; wastewater treatment; renewable energy; heat power engineering; biohydrogen; dark fermentation
Dr. Vivekanand Vivekanand

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Energy and Environment, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur 302017, Rajasthan, India
Interests: biomass; bioenergy; biogas; sustainable energy resources
Dr. Yuriy Litti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prospekt, 33, 2, Moscow 119071, Russia
Interests: anammox; anaerobic digestion; dark fermentation; biohydrogen
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, climate change and the energy production system have become global issues, and the international community is increasingly calling for action. According to the latest estimates, global energy demand will grow by 35% between now and 2035. The energy crisis has become a major problem due to population growth, high living standards and industrialization. In addition, a large proportion of the energy production still depends on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. However, the overuse of fossil fuels is a major cause of the depletion of and rising prices for these fuels. In addition, negative environmental and climate impacts are associated with emissions such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, smoke and unburned hydrocarbons. Also, population growth, a high standard of living and industrialization have increased the volume of production and consumption waste, negatively affecting the environment due to water and soil pollution in cases of improper processing.

Thus, the search for ways to secure a low anthropogenic load on the environment is endless. Considering the current developments, it will be necessary to adopt intelligent control and emission estimation methods, as well as energy-efficient equipment for energy conversion and waste disposal as technical solutions.

This Special Issue, entitled “Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste”, invites the submission high-quality papers from academics and industry-related researchers on the latest advances in the modeling, simulation, optimization, control and application of all types of components and systems aimed at reducing environmental emissions and qualitatively quantifying and recycling existing and produced environmental waste.

Dr. Andrey A. Kovalev
Dr. Vivekanand Vivekanand
Dr. Yuriy Litti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environmental waste
  • energy systems
  • energy efficiency
  • energy saving technologies
  • emission estimation systems
  • renewable energy sources
  • waste to hydrogen
  • green information systems
  • environmental issues
  • waste to energy
  • waste to product
  • anaerobic digestion

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3730 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Electricity Production Using Avocado Waste
by Segundo Rojas-Flores, Juan Vives-Garnique, Félix Díaz and Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega
Processes 2024, 12(4), 715; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12040715 - 31 Mar 2024
Viewed by 763
Abstract
Agroindustry waste has exponentially increased in recent years, generating economic losses and environmental problems. In addition, new ways to generate sustainable alternative electrical energy are currently being sought to satisfy energy demand. This investigation proposes using avocado waste as fuel for electricity generation [...] Read more.
Agroindustry waste has exponentially increased in recent years, generating economic losses and environmental problems. In addition, new ways to generate sustainable alternative electrical energy are currently being sought to satisfy energy demand. This investigation proposes using avocado waste as fuel for electricity generation in single-chamber MFCs. The avocado waste initially operated with an ambient temperature (22.4 ± 0.01 °C), DO of 2.54 ± 0.01 mg/L, TDS of 1358 ± 1 mg/L and COD of 1487.25 ± 0.01 mg/L. This research managed to generate its maximum voltage (0.861 ± 0.241 V) and current (3.781 ± 0.667 mA) on the fourteenth day, operating at an optimal pH of 7.386 ± 0.147, all with 126.032 ± 8.888 mS/cm of electrical conductivity in the substrate. An internal resistance of 67.683 ± 2.456 Ω was found on day 14 with a PD of 365.16 ± 9.88 mW/cm2 for a CD of 5.744 A/cm2. Micrographs show the formation of porous biofilms on both the anodic and cathodic electrodes. This study gives preliminary results of using avocado waste as fuel, which can provide outstanding solutions to agro-industrial companies dedicated to selling this fruit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste)
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18 pages, 4885 KiB  
Article
Biogas Upgradation by CO2 Sequestration and Simultaneous Production of Acetic Acid by Novel Isolated Bacteria
by Apoorva Upadhyay, Aakash Chawade, Mohd Mohsin Ikram, Virendra Kumar Saharan, Nidhi Pareek and Vivekanand Vivekanand
Processes 2023, 11(11), 3163; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11113163 - 06 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1155
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion produces biogas, which is a proven bioprocess for generating energy, recovering nutrients, and reusing waste materials. Generally, the biogas generated contains methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in a 3:2 ratio, which limits the usage of the [...] Read more.
Anaerobic digestion produces biogas, which is a proven bioprocess for generating energy, recovering nutrients, and reusing waste materials. Generally, the biogas generated contains methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in a 3:2 ratio, which limits the usage of the biogas to only cooking gas. To further enhance the application of biogas to vehicular fuel and natural gas grids, CO2 must be removed for an enhanced calorific value. This study seeks to lower greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering carbon dioxide from biogas. CO2 sequestration by microorganisms to upgrade the biogas and simultaneously convert the CO2 into acetic acid is a less explored area of research. Therefore, this research focuses mainly on the analysis of CO2 consumption % and acetic acid yield by novel isolated bacteria from fruit waste and mixed consortia obtained from cow dung and digested samples. The research finding states that there was a 32% increase in methane yield shown by isolated strain A1, i.e., CH4% was increased from 60% to 90%, whereas only an 11% increase was shown by consortia, which was an increase from 60% to 80%. The highest biogas upgradation was shown by the A1 strain at 30 °C incubation temperature and pH 8. The A1 strain demonstrated the highest recorded yield of acetic acid, reaching a concentration of 2215 mg/L at pH 8. A pH range of 7–8 was found to be the best-suited pH, and a mesophilic temperature was optimum for CO2 consumption and acetic acid production. The major objective is to create an effective method for improving biogas so that it is acceptable for different energy applications by lowering the carbon dioxide content and raising the methane content. This development signifies a significant advancement in the enhancement of biogas upgradation, as well as the concurrent generation of value-added goods, thereby establishing a sustainable platform technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste)
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14 pages, 1802 KiB  
Article
Production of Biohydrogen from Microalgae Biomass after Wastewater Treatment and Air Purification from CO2
by Ksenia Velmozhina, Polina Shinkevich, Viacheslav Zhazhkov, Natalia Politaeva, Vadim Korablev, Iaroslav Vladimirov and Tania Carbonell Morales
Processes 2023, 11(10), 2978; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11102978 - 14 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
This article explores the feasibility of producing biohydrogen from microalgae following their use in wastewater purification from food industry facilities and the removal of high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. The authors investigated various methods for disrupting the [...] Read more.
This article explores the feasibility of producing biohydrogen from microalgae following their use in wastewater purification from food industry facilities and the removal of high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. The authors investigated various methods for disrupting the cell membranes of microalgae and their impact on biohydrogen yield. The microalgae biomass obtained after wastewater and air purification underwent pre-treatment using physicochemical and chemical methods, including microwave radiation, acid treatment, and thermal treatment. The highest hydrogen production occurred during thermal and acid treatments of biomass with the addition of starch (44.24 mL/L of suspension). The use of microwave radiation for processing did not yield significant results. A comparison of the biohydrogen values obtained from untreated and treated biomass revealed that treatment enhances biohydrogen yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste)
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12 pages, 5153 KiB  
Article
Application of the Hybrid Chemical-Biocatalytic Approach for Conversion of Nitrocellulose-Containing Sewage Sludge
by Sergey Gaydamaka, Marina Gladchenko, Olga Maslova, Olga Senko, Alla Kornilova and Igor’ Kornilov
Processes 2023, 11(7), 2017; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11072017 - 06 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 700
Abstract
Waste containing explosive chemicals are hazardous to the environment. We suggested and implemented a hybrid approach for the destruction of nitrocellulose-containing sewage sludge (NCS) from a real chemical industrial complex. Combining chemical alkaline hydrolysis and mesophilic anaerobic digestion in a up-flow anaerobic sludge [...] Read more.
Waste containing explosive chemicals are hazardous to the environment. We suggested and implemented a hybrid approach for the destruction of nitrocellulose-containing sewage sludge (NCS) from a real chemical industrial complex. Combining chemical alkaline hydrolysis and mesophilic anaerobic digestion in a up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor allowed us to successfully achieve the balance between the environmental safety and economic efficiency of the stages of the treatment. After the alkaline treatment of waste at 50 °C with 1.5 M KOH, the solid residue contained mostly just sand and no nitrocellulose (NC). The liquid phase accumulated 2869 ± 24 mg N-NO2−/L and 1698 ± 51 mg N-NO3−/L. Bioconversion of the liquid phase neutralized with acetic acid and diluted with water by a factor of 50 in a 1 L UASB reactor ensured 99% efficiency of extracting N(NO2− + NO3−) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Further, biogas with high methane content (>70%) was obtained. The establishment of the operational regime in the UASB reactor was achieved in two stages. The suggested hybrid approach to denitrification and methanogenesis is aimed at implementing the sustainable development concept in industrial chemical cycles. The results of this study are significant for researchers and technologists interested in developing hybrid processes for waste treatment that involve chemical catalysis as the first stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste)
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20 pages, 1249 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Factors of Single-Use Plastic Avoidance Behavior for Environmental Sustainability in China
by Feng Gu, Zhaowei Zhu and Sharafat Ali
Processes 2023, 11(5), 1412; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11051412 - 06 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3798
Abstract
Governments have been introducing strategies to reduce plastic waste. The reduction in plastic waste can be possible through single-use plastic avoidance. However, this is only possible with the proper understanding of the behavioral factors of single-use plastic avoidance behavior (SPAB). This study explores [...] Read more.
Governments have been introducing strategies to reduce plastic waste. The reduction in plastic waste can be possible through single-use plastic avoidance. However, this is only possible with the proper understanding of the behavioral factors of single-use plastic avoidance behavior (SPAB). This study explores the factors that influence the decision-making process regarding SPAB in China, a major environmental problem, climate change, and global warming. The authors used a questionnaire survey to collect data from 421 respondents and analyze it using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study examines the effects of attitude, subjective norms (SNs), perceived behavior control (PBC), and policy intervention (PI) on single-use plastic avoidance behavior (SPAB) mediated by plastic avoidance behavioral intentions (PABI) and plastic-related environmental concerns (PREC). The analysis reveals that attitude, PBC, and PI significantly affect PABI, which affects SPAB. Moreover, PREC influences both PABI and SPAB. Furthermore, PI significantly impacts SPAB through PABI and PREC. The study suggests that effective PIs are crucial to reducing single-use plastic waste by shaping attitude, PBC, PABI, and PREC among the public and promoting pro-environmental behavior to achieve the objective of environmental sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste)
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Review

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31 pages, 3334 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Overview of the Utilization of Recycled Waste Materials and Technologies in Asphalt Pavements: Towards Environmental and Sustainable Low-Carbon Roads
by Nura Shehu Aliyu Yaro, Muslich Hartadi Sutanto, Lavania Baloo, Noor Zainab Habib, Aliyu Usman, Arsalaan Khan Yousafzai, Abdulaziz Ahmad, Abdullahi Haruna Birniwa, Ahmad Hussaini Jagaba and Azmatullah Noor
Processes 2023, 11(7), 2095; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11072095 - 13 Jul 2023
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5063
Abstract
Given the prevailing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and the growing demand for renewable resources, the pavement industry, among others, is actively engaged in researching and exploring low-carbon materials and technologies. Despite the growing interest in low-carbon asphalt pavement, there is [...] Read more.
Given the prevailing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and the growing demand for renewable resources, the pavement industry, among others, is actively engaged in researching and exploring low-carbon materials and technologies. Despite the growing interest in low-carbon asphalt pavement, there is still a significant knowledge gap regarding the use of various waste materials and technologies to achieve this goal. This study aims to close this gap by conducting a systematic review and scientometric assessment of the existing studies on the use of waste materials and technologies for low-carbon asphalt pavement. The study spans the years 2008 to 2023, and the scientometric analysis was conducted using the VOS viewer application. The study identifies materials and technologies in this area by examining co-authored country studies, publication sources, and keyword co-occurrence. It should be noted that a limited number of waste materials that allow CO2 emissions reduction was analyzed in this study. However, other waste categories, such as bio-oils and polymers, which can provide positive either environmental or economic impacts on the production of paving materials, were not considered in the scope of the study. Based on the current review, it was found that integrating recycled waste materials like recycled asphalt pavement, biochar, or crumb rubber with alternative mixing technologies such as warm mix asphalt and cleaner energy can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. China and the United States were identified as key research contributors to the low-carbon pavement. Furthermore, biomass-based fuel and electric construction equipment lower carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 36–90% and 67–95%, respectively. However, before various recycled waste materials and technologies can be widely used in the asphalt industry, various challenges need to be addressed, including cost concerns, performance and durability concerns, standardization and regulations, availability, integration with existing facilities, and insufficient field and long-term data. The review identified critical research gaps, such as the absence of a homogeneous and reliable standard method for low-carbon asphalt pavement, limited field performance data, and a life cycle assessment approach in analyzing the emission reduction effects. The reviews will aid in the paradigm shift to a more carbon-friendly pavement industry that uses recycled waste materials and technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recycling and Evaluation of Environmental Waste)
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