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Processes
Special Issues
Process Intensification for Waste Valorization
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Process Intensification for Waste Valorization

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 3246

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Vincenza Calabrò

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Guest Editor
Department of Informatics, Modeling, Electronics and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria, I-87036 Rende, Italy
Interests: transport phenomena; bioconversions; production of biofuels; extraction; membranes; biotechnology in the food industry; modeling; waste valorization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Catia Giovanna Lopresto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Informatics, Modeling, Electronics and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria, I-87036 Rende, Italy
Interests: green chemistry technology; enzyme kinetics; biofuel production; biomass conversion; renewable energy technologies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transformation of wastes into valuable materials, chemicals, fuels, and other sources of energy (via chemical, thermal, biological, or electrochemical processes) is an emergent strong trend, with the aim of valorizing greatly underutilized resources. For examples, wastes (from agricultural and forestry activities, the food industry, wastewaters, etc.) are a green source of valuable nutrients, as well as recoverable and recyclable valuable metals, for biofuel production and other uses.

The successful valorization of wastes closes the loop in the circular economy for a more sustainable future. This challenge is very complex and requires an interdisciplinary approach. Process intensification is a promising pathway in the development of sustainable and cost-effective chemical process systems. It has attracted considerable interest as a potential means of improving processes, profitability, and efficiency, in addition to meeting the increasing demand for sustainable production. It can also be applied in the conversion of raw materials into high-value products and energy to bring significant benefits in terms of process and chain efficiency, lower capital and operating expenses, higher quality of products, and improved process safety. For examples, several books, reviews, and research papers that address topics related to the positive effects of microwaves, ultrasounds, combinations of reactions and separations, or other different unit operations have recently shown promising results in biomass exploitation.

This Special Issue on “Process Intensification for Waste Valorization” seeks high-quality works focusing on the latest novel advances in the valorization of any wastes for different applications. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Biofuel production from wastes;
  • Wastewater treatment and conversion;
  • Extraction from waste biomass;
  • Nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications of wastes.

Prof. Dr. Vincenza Calabrò
Dr. Catia Giovanna Lopresto
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

  • biofuel
  • wastewater treatment
  • waste biomass

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3684 KiB  
Article
A Green Approach of Utilising Banana Peel (Musa paradisiaca) as Adsorbent Precursor for an Anionic Dye Removal: Kinetic, Isotherm and Thermodynamics Analysis
by Ain Aqilah Basirun, Ahmad Razi Othman, Nur Adeela Yasid, Mohd Yunus Abd Shukor and Mohd Ezuan Khayat
Processes 2023, 11(6), 1611; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11061611 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1470
Abstract
Methods for removing pollutants include membrane isolation, ion exchange, precipitation, transformation, and biosorption. Adsorption is a cost-effective method of treating industrial wastewater and a common commercial method for concentrating valuable molecules or eliminating contaminants. Banana peel is one of the largest underutilized agricultural [...] Read more.
Methods for removing pollutants include membrane isolation, ion exchange, precipitation, transformation, and biosorption. Adsorption is a cost-effective method of treating industrial wastewater and a common commercial method for concentrating valuable molecules or eliminating contaminants. Banana peel is one of the largest underutilized agricultural wastes in Malaysia. A novel method of using a low-cost biosorbent made from banana peel and Evans blue (EB) dye as a target is the target of this study. The optimal conditions for EB dye adsorption occurred at a dye concentration of 200 mg/L, adsorbent dosages between 10 and 20 g/L, temperature of 25 °C, incubation time of 180 min, and agitation speeds of 100 rpm. Statistical discriminatory analysis showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Redlich–Petersen isotherm model were the best models. The maximum adsorption capacity based on Langmuir’s isotherm prediction was 58.51 mg g−1. A non–linear regression of the thermodynamic van’t Hoff plot based on a dimensionless equilibrium constant resulted in negative values for Gibb’s free energy and enthalpy, indicating that the adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Process Intensification for Waste Valorization)
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15 pages, 2193 KiB  
Article
Influence of Fe2O3 Nanoparticles on the Anaerobic Digestion of Macroalgae Sargassum spp.
by Rosy Paletta, Sebastiano Candamano, Pierpaolo Filippelli and Catia Giovanna Lopresto
Processes 2023, 11(4), 1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11041016 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1442
Abstract
The anaerobic digestion (AD) of biomass is a green technology with known environmental benefits for biogas generation. The biogas yield from existing substrates and the biodegradability of biomasses can be improved by conventional or novel enhancement techniques, such as the addition of iron-based [...] Read more.
The anaerobic digestion (AD) of biomass is a green technology with known environmental benefits for biogas generation. The biogas yield from existing substrates and the biodegradability of biomasses can be improved by conventional or novel enhancement techniques, such as the addition of iron-based nanoparticles (NPs). In this study, the effect of different concentrations of Fe2O3-based NPs on the AD of brown macroalga Sargassum spp. has been investigated by 30 days trials. The effect of NPs was evaluated at different concentrations. The control sample yielded a value of 80.25 ± 3.21 NmLCH4/gVS. When 5 mg/g substrate and 10 mg/g substrate of Fe2O3 NPs were added to the control sample, the yield increased by 24.07% and 26.97%, respectively. Instead, when 50 mg/g substrate of Fe2O3 NPs was added to the control sample, a negative effect was observed, and the biomethane yield decreased by 38.97%. Therefore, low concentrations of Fe2O3 NPs favor the AD process, whereas high concentrations have an inhibitory effect. Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) via Fe2O3 NPs and their insolubility play an important role in facilitating the methanogenesis process during AD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Process Intensification for Waste Valorization)
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