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From Solid Waste to Resources: Recycling, Recovery, Valorization and Treatment...
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From Solid Waste to Resources: Recycling, Recovery, Valorization and Treatment Technologies

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Chemical Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 6892

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Verónica Oliveira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: nutrient recovery and recycling; phosphorus; waste management; circular economy; environmental sustainability; municipal solid waste; agricultural waste; electrodialytic treatment; struvite precipitation
Dr. Célia Dias-Ferreira

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of Sciences and Technology (DCeT), Universidade Aberta, 1250-100 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: recovery of nutrients from waste; waste collection and treatment; innovation policy in waste management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Solid waste management is one the biggest challenge in both urban and rural environments in many developed and developing countries. At present, European policies are pushing to adjust the management options towards valorization of natural resources. Waste valorization, materials recycling and upcycling and recovery are promising perspectives. Many developed countries are employing diverse methods for municipal, industrial and agricultural solid waste management for producing renewable energy and other products such as high-quality compost. Recent and advanced treatment technologies are being investigating to extract and recover specific elements (phosphorus, nitrogen, metals, etc.) contained in solid waste to convert them into green-based products that can be used for food production or by the industry setor. Therefore, sustainable, economic and efficient solid waste management solutions are critical in order to promote resource recovery.

In this Special Issue, authors are strongly invited to submit their papers covering high-quality and novel research as well as review studies that address recycling, recovery, valorization and advanced treatments applied for the conversion from solid waste to resources. Possible topis include, but are not limited to: a) Lab-, pilot-, or full-scale applications of sustainable resource recovery processes; b) novel and advanced technologies for the conversion of solid waste to resources; c) processes for the valorization processes of the solid wastes into compost and green materials; and d) environmental, economic and social analyses for resource recovery processes from solid waste. This special issue will contribute to enhance the understanding of the past and recent technologies in solid waste conversion with the view to incentivate novel initiatives for future sustainable resource recovery.

Dr. Verónica Oliveira
Dr. Célia Dias-Ferreira
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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

  • resource recovery
  • nutrient recycling and recovery
  • zero-waste process
  • green-based products
  • advanced treatments
  • environmental and economic analyses
  • solid waste valorization

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 5235 KiB  
Article
Valorisation of Pulp and Paper Industry Wastes—Incorporation in Bituminous Mixtures for Road Construction
by Sara Martins, Silvino Capitão, Luís Araújo Santos and Carla Rodrigues
Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1254; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031254 - 01 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1169
Abstract
Some wastes from the paper pulp production process are still sent to a controlled waste landfill. These materials can constitute alternative resources for constructing road pavements. The study aimed to characterize and explore the sustainable application of two inorganic wastes resulting from the [...] Read more.
Some wastes from the paper pulp production process are still sent to a controlled waste landfill. These materials can constitute alternative resources for constructing road pavements. The study aimed to characterize and explore the sustainable application of two inorganic wastes resulting from the paper pulp process, the dregs (green liquor wastes) and the grits (slaker wastes), in the production of bituminous mixtures by the analysis of samples prepared with 5 and 10% of dregs and 5 and 10% of grits on the baseline reference bituminous mixture AC 14 surf 35/50. Some relevant mechanical properties of the blends were assessed based on Marshall compression, sensitivity to water and wheel-tracking tests. Additionally, water poured on the loose asphalt and compacted slabs’ surface was analysed to determine the portion of harmful chemical compounds leached from the asphalt material. The results show that using dregs presented some technical limitations related to mechanical performance and that the incorporation of grits has an acceptable mechanical behaviour. Moreover, the study shows that the measured leachate resulting from water flow in a reference asphalt mixture and the blends with grits are insignificant. It can be concluded that using grits in asphalt mixtures is a promising technique regarding mechanical behaviour and environmental impacts that need further studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Solid Waste to Resources: Recycling, Recovery, Valorization and Treatment Technologies)
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19 pages, 1512 KiB  
Article
Pretreated Agro-Industrial Effluents as a Source of Nutrients for Tomatoes Grown in a Dual Function Hydroponic System: Tomato Quality Assessment
by Alexandra Afonso, Carlos Ribeiro, Maria João Carvalho, Tânia Correia, Pedro Correia, Mariana Regato, Idália Costa, Annabel Fernandes, Adelaide Almeida, Ana Lopes and Fátima Carvalho
Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010315 - 29 Dec 2023
Viewed by 900
Abstract
In a zero-waste approach for the agro-industrial sector, this study aimed to evaluate the reuse of cheese whey wastewater (chemical oxygen demand = 2.1 g L−1) pretreated by immediate one-step lime precipitation followed by natural carbonation as a nutritive solution for [...] Read more.
In a zero-waste approach for the agro-industrial sector, this study aimed to evaluate the reuse of cheese whey wastewater (chemical oxygen demand = 2.1 g L−1) pretreated by immediate one-step lime precipitation followed by natural carbonation as a nutritive solution for tomato production in hydroponic systems. Pretreated effluent, diluted with groundwater (1:6) and supplemented with nutrients, was utilized to irrigate different hydroponic systems designed to assess the influence of tomato rooting type (free/confined−setup_A) and the feed’s solution level (with/without water deep−setup_B). Plants and fruit development, fruit physicochemical characteristics and sensory analysis, and effluent quality after reuse were analyzed. Good quality tomato production with high crop yield was obtained. The highest marketable tomato weight per plant (682 g) was observed in setup_B with a deep-bed system, but setup_A, with free or confined rooting, presented similar values. The type of rooting, within setup_A or water deep within setup_B, did not significantly influence plant and fruit characteristics. The highest maturity and flavor indexes were observed for setup_A with free rooting. Regarding sensory analysis, setup_A often scored the highest in terms of overall appreciation with free or confined rooting. The reuse of cheese whey wastewater in hydroponics reduced freshwater consumption for crop production, allowed for a treated final effluent and prevented soil degradation in a sustainable circular economy methodology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Solid Waste to Resources: Recycling, Recovery, Valorization and Treatment Technologies)
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15 pages, 3528 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical Recovery of Phosphorus from Simulated and Real Wastewater: Effect of Investigational Conditions on the Process Efficiency
by Carlos Y. Sousa, Annabel Fernandes, Albertina Amaro, Maria José Pacheco, Lurdes Ciríaco and Ana Lopes
Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16556; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416556 - 05 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1182
Abstract
The development of recovery processes has become essential in recent years as a strategy to minimize environmental pollution while boosting circular economy and sustainable development. Due to the exponential growth in agricultural production and the increased pollution of waterbodies, the production of fertilizers [...] Read more.
The development of recovery processes has become essential in recent years as a strategy to minimize environmental pollution while boosting circular economy and sustainable development. Due to the exponential growth in agricultural production and the increased pollution of waterbodies, the production of fertilizers from recovered phosphorus has become an alternative to phosphate rock-based production. In this work, the effect of different operational parameters in the efficiency of the electrochemical recovery of phosphorus, from organic and inorganic sources, was investigated. Among the studied variables, the most significant was the electrode material utilized in the system. The use of magnesium sacrificial electrodes, as AZ31 alloys, led to phosphorus removal from solution of above 90%, allowing the recovery of both orthophosphates and organic phosphorus (glyphosate) as struvite, brucite, and other amorphous compounds. Since there is a lack in the literature about the use of magnesium electrodes in real wastewater electrochemical treatment, system efficiency was also evaluated using a sanitary landfill leachate, reaching 96% of phosphorus recovery. The specific energy consumption and faradaic efficiency of the phosphorus recovery process were also assessed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Solid Waste to Resources: Recycling, Recovery, Valorization and Treatment Technologies)
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15 pages, 3123 KiB  
Article
Extraction of Phosphorus from Sewage Sludge Ash—Influence of Process Variables on the Electrodialytic Process
by Lisbeth M. Ottosen, Gunvor M. Kirkelund, Pernille E. Jensen and Kristine B. Pedersen
Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13953; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813953 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 801
Abstract
Phosphorus is a critical, irreplaceable raw material, and developing methods to recover P from secondary sources such as sewage sludge ash (SSA) is crucial. Two-compartment electrodialytic extraction (2C-ED) is one method where an electric DC field is applied to extract P and separate [...] Read more.
Phosphorus is a critical, irreplaceable raw material, and developing methods to recover P from secondary sources such as sewage sludge ash (SSA) is crucial. Two-compartment electrodialytic extraction (2C-ED) is one method where an electric DC field is applied to extract P and separate heavy metals simultaneously. Several process parameters influence 2C-ED, and they influence each other mutually. This paper explores chemometrics modeling to give insight into the 2C-ED process and, specifically, optimization of the experimental parameters towards 80% P extraction. A projections-to-latent-structures model was constructed based on new 2C-ED experiments conducted with one SSA type. The model was stable (high correlation factor and predictive power). Variable importance in the projection (VIP) plots showed that the influence of the variables was in the order: current > duration > L:S ratio > stirring velocity > dispersion solution (weak acid or distilled water). Contour plots were used for exploring different P extraction strategies. For example, more P mass per unit current was extracted at an L:S ratio of 7 compared to L:S 14. This shows that treating a thicker SSA suspension is preferable to optimize the current efficiency. The chemometric model proved valuable for optimizing the 2C-ED process and future scale-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Solid Waste to Resources: Recycling, Recovery, Valorization and Treatment Technologies)
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14 pages, 1822 KiB  
Article
Effect of Alkali and Membrane Area on the Simultaneous Recovery of Nitrogen and Phosphorous from Digestate by Membrane Technology and Chemical Precipitation
by Isabel González-García, Berta Riaño, Beatriz Molinuevo-Salces and María Cruz García-González
Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 3909; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15053909 - 21 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1076
Abstract
Nutrient recovery from the agri-food sector waste is an increasingly recognized option within the framework of the bioeconomy. Membrane technologies and chemical precipitation are among the best valued options for their economic and practical feasibility. In this study, the combination of gas-permeable membrane [...] Read more.
Nutrient recovery from the agri-food sector waste is an increasingly recognized option within the framework of the bioeconomy. Membrane technologies and chemical precipitation are among the best valued options for their economic and practical feasibility. In this study, the combination of gas-permeable membrane (GPM) technology for the recovery of nitrogen (N) and the chemical precipitation for phosphorous (P) recovery from anaerobically digested swine manure is evaluated. This work studies the effect of the membrane area and the addition of alkali on N and P recovery efficiencies. Specifically, two different membrane area ratios (180 and 100 g of N per m2 of membrane) with and without the addition of alkali were studied. High nutrient recovery efficiencies, of 77% for N and 80% for P, were obtained after 10 days of experiment with a ratio of 180 g N per m2 of GPM and the addition of NaOH (1.5 N), along with the precipitant agent (MgCl2) for P precipitation. Hence, a combined configuration was proposed to perform an effective simultaneous recovery of N and P with the minimum amount of membrane needed in a short time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Solid Waste to Resources: Recycling, Recovery, Valorization and Treatment Technologies)
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Review

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30 pages, 1231 KiB  
Review
Biochemical Methane Potential Assays for Organic Wastes as an Anaerobic Digestion Feedstock
by Tiago Miguel Cabrita and Maria Teresa Santos
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11573; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511573 - 26 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 937
Abstract
The anaerobic digestion process is applied worldwide in the treatment of various organic wastes, allowing energy production from biogas and organic recovery from digested sludge. In the evaluation of suitable substrates for anaerobic digestion, Biochemical Methane Potential assays are the most applied, and, [...] Read more.
The anaerobic digestion process is applied worldwide in the treatment of various organic wastes, allowing energy production from biogas and organic recovery from digested sludge. In the evaluation of suitable substrates for anaerobic digestion, Biochemical Methane Potential assays are the most applied, and, despite several efforts to standardize this method, it is observed that there are still several studies that do not apply all the criteria. This current paper’s main goal is to present a review of anaerobic feedstocks, BMP methodologies, experimental conditions, and results of specific methane production from 2008 to 2023. A wide range of anaerobic feedstocks was found, which was divided into five groups: animal manure, sludge, food wastes, energy crops, and other organic wastes. Several parameters were used to characterize the anaerobic feedstocks, like TS, VS, COD, and pH, displaying different value ranges. The number of publications concerning BMP assays increased significantly over the years until 2021, having stabilized in the last two years. This evolution allowed for several attempts to standardize the BMP method with positive developments, but there are still some gaps in the experimental conditions and the determination of specific methane production. All of this makes the comparison of some studies a challenge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Solid Waste to Resources: Recycling, Recovery, Valorization and Treatment Technologies)
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