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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 4531

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Valentin Romanovski

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Guest Editor

Research Scientist, Materials Science and Engineering Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
Interests: recycling of industrial wastes; water and wastewater treatment; surface disinfection; corrosion/materials degradation; electrochemistry; nanotechnology in water treatment and catalysis; pyrolysis of wastes; synthesis and characterization of advanced materials; engineering failure analysis; feasibility studies

Prof. Dr. Xintai Su

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Guest Editor

School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: solid waste treatment; biomass organic solid waste treatment; chromium slag treatment; humic acid fertilizer

Dr. Haitao Wang

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Guest Editor

College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Interests: groundwater and soil redmediation; eco-materials for environmental application; PFAS; advanced oxidation processes for water treatment; photo- and electrocatalytic water treatment; resources recycling and sustainability
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Dr. Elena Romanovskaia

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Guest Editor

Research Assistant, Materials Science and Engineering dept., University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Interests: waste treatment; electrochemistry; physical chemistry; inorganic chemistry; wastewater treatment; recycling of water treatment and wastewater treatment wastes; nanosized and advanced materials synthesis; nanotechnology in catalysis; corrosion processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to contribute a paper to a Special Issue we are co-editing on the topic of “Sustainable Materials and Waste Recovery”. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide best practices in waste valorization, including waste to materials, and material recovery as part of the circular economy. This Special Issue is inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.

We welcome applied research including case studies that can be related to problems of interest to waste researchers, practitioners, and/or policymakers. Case studies must describe results that can be applied beyond the specific location. Manuscripts regarding modeling and software development are acceptable if combined with lab experimental results.

Prof. Dr. Valentin Romanovski
Prof. Dr. Xintai Su
Dr. Haitao Wang
Dr. Elena Romanovskaia
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. Applied Sciences 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

industrial waste
water treatment waste
wastewater treatment waste
inorganic waste
recycling
materials recovery
waste to materials

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1813 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Technology for the Bioleaching of Uranium in a Solution of Bacterial Immobilization

by Bauyrzhan Shiderin, Yerkin Bektay, Gaukhar Turysbekova, Akmurat Altynbek and Maxat Bektayev

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4640; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114640 - 28 May 2024

Viewed by 386

Abstract

This study presents findings regarding the kinetics of ferrous iron oxidation in solution mediated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans bacteria within a continuous-flow bioreactor employing diverse types of immobilizers. The objective is to augment the rate of ferrous iron oxidation in solutions utilizing an immobilizer for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains. Immobilization represents a promising avenue for enhancing the efficiency of Fe²⁺ oxidation via acidophilic ferrooxidizing bacteria, leading to a several-fold increase in oxidation rate. A comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different types of immobilizer in facilitating iron oxidation within a continuous-flow bioreactor, including the application of wood chips coated with Fe(OH)₃. The results indicate that wood chips coated with iron hydroxide serve as effective type of immobilizer, facilitating the robust attachment of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans via electrostatic interactions between negatively charged bacteria and positively charged surfaces. Experimental investigations were conducted using novel immobilization matrices in pilot-scale tests simulating the underground borehole leaching (UBL) of uranium. The bioactivation of leaching solutions enhances the efficiency and environmental compatibility of UBL compared to conventional chemical oxidation methods. The relationships between redox potential and ferric iron content in bioactivated solutions during the UBL of uranium were delineated. The significance of this study lies in its elucidating the pivotal role of Fe²⁺ oxidation in uranium extraction processes, particularly in the context of UBL. By employing bioactivation mediated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, the study demonstrates not only enhanced uranium extraction efficiency, but also markedly improved environmental sustainability compared to traditional chemical oxidation methods. The findings reveal crucial correlations between redox potential and ferric iron concentration in bioactivated solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Waste Recovery)

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16 pages, 9004 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Alkali–Sulfur Co-Activation and Mechanical Properties of Low-Carbon Cementitious Composite Materials Based on Electrolytic Manganese Residue, Carbide Slag, and Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag

by Jianbo Liang, Rongjin Liu, Daiyan Jing, Fuhua Lu, Yanrong Zhao, Zhihan Xie, Wanyu Huang and Tingchao Chen

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4355; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114355 - 21 May 2024

Viewed by 568

Abstract

Industrial solid waste is characterized by complex mineral phases and various components. Low-carbon cementitious materials can be prepared through precise regulation based on the material composition and properties of various industrial solid wastes. In this study, electrolytic manganese residue (EMR), carbide slag (CS), and granulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) were used as alternatives to cement to prepare multicomponent solid waste cementitious materials. The effects of the proportions of EMR and CS on the cementitious activity of GBFS and the activation mechanism of alkali and sulfur were studied. The results showed that with increasing EMR content, the strength first increased and then decreased. At a GBFS content of 20%, CS content of 2%, and EMR content of 8%, the compressive strength was highest, reaching 45.5 MPa after 28 days of curing, mainly because the OH⁻ in CS and SO₄²⁻ in EMR synergistically stimulated the active components in GBFS. Hydrated products such as ettringite and hydrated calcium silicate (C–S–H gel) were generated and interlaced with each other to improve the densification of the mortar. Overall, the proposed system provides an avenue to reduce or replace the production of cement clinker and achieve the high-value-added utilization of industrial solid waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Waste Recovery)

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19 pages, 2150 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adsorption of Ammonium, Nitrate, and Phosphate on Hydrochars and Biochars

by Paulo André Trazzi, Mayank Vashishtha, Jan Najser, Achim Schmalenberger, Vasanth Kumar Kannuchamy, James J. Leahy and Witold Kwapinski

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2280; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062280 - 8 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1015

Abstract

Biochar (BC) and hydrochar (HC) have attracted considerable attention owing to their versatile characteristics and proven effectiveness in diverse technical fields. Solid BC is generated as a result of the dry carbonisation process of pyrolysis, in contrast to the slurry HC, which is produced during the hydrothermal carbonisation process. In this study, we evaluated the adsorption potential of two hydrochar samples (HCs) and three biochar samples (BCs) produced from sugar cane bagasse. The adsorption capacity of these samples was tested for ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate ions under various conditions. The BCs and HCs were subjected to characterisation using a CHNS/O analyser, the zeta potential, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Elevating the pyrolysis temperature of the biochar resulted in changes in the fixed carbon and ash contents, while the volatile matter and H/C and O/C atomic ratios decreased. As the residence time increased, the H/C ratio and volatile matter content of the hydrochars (HCs) decreased. However, the fixed carbon content, ash content, and O/C and C/N ratios exhibited an increase. Thermodynamics, adsorption isotherms, and pH were also taken into consideration. The FTIR spectra analysis indicated that the carboxyl and ester functional groups present in both the BCs and HCs displayed reduced peak intensities subsequent to the adsorption of the three ions. While the adsorption was exothermic, we noticed that the adsorption capacity increased with temperature. The results indicate that sorption was homogenous across all binding sites, as evidenced by the optimal fit to the Langmuir isotherm. The research findings indicate that the adsorption capacity of various BC and HC adsorbents is significantly influenced by the surface area of the adsorbents in the case of nitrate and phosphate, but in the case of ammonia, adsorption is dictated by the functional polar groups present on the adsorbent surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Waste Recovery)

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20 pages, 5398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Solidification of Radioactive Wastes Using Recycled Cement Originating from Decommissioned Nuclear-Energy Facilities

by Ji-Hun Jeon, Jong-Hwan Lee, Woo-Chun Lee, Sang-Woo Lee and Soon-Oh Kim

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1781; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051781 - 22 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 647

Abstract

Hundreds of thousands of tons of waste are generated from decommissioned nuclear- power facilities, and it has become a critical global issue to secure technology for reducing and recycling this waste. Concrete waste (CW) is estimated to comprise 60–80% of the total waste, and concrete-waste powder (CWP) includes enough inorganic substances used as effective materials for waste treatment. Accordingly, it can be used to produce recycled cement (RC). This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a solidification agent manufactured using recycled cement (SRC) for the safe packing of radioactive wastes, such as coarse aggregates of CW, waste soil, and metal wastes originating from decommissioned nuclear facilities. The experimental results indicated that the most relevant incineration temperature of CWP for RC was 700 °C. The optimum water-to-binder ratio was determined to be 0.4, and the most relevant substitution ratio of ground granulated blast furnace slag for CWP was determined to be 15%. In addition, calcium silicate hydrate is the most effective hydration product for improving the compressive strength of SRC. The maximum packing capacities of the SRC for coarse aggregates, waste soil, and metal waste, which were simulated as radioactive wastes, were determined to be 30, 5, and 7 wt%, respectively. The results of leaching tests using SRC containing radioactive wastes contaminated with Co, Cs, and Sr indicated that their leachability indices met the acceptance level for disposal. Consequently, the RC composed of CWP can be used as a solidifying agent to safely dispose of radioactive wastes, such as coarse aggregates, waste soil, and metal waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Waste Recovery)

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13 pages, 4387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of a Low-Cement-Content Silty Soil Stabilizer Using Industrial Solid Wastes

by Haijun Li, Wenqiang Ma, Kai Wang, Yujie Feng, Shengtao Zhang, Shengya Zhou and Hanming Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(1), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14010317 - 29 Dec 2023

Viewed by 853

Abstract

Silty soil performs poorly when used in roads. Cement is generally used as a stabilizer to treat silty soil and enable it to meet the requirements for roadbed filling. However, cement is an environmentally unfriendly material and can cost much. Meanwhile, solid wastes of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), fly ash (FA), and flue gas desulfurized (FGD) gypsum are produced in large quantities annually. Therefore, stabilizer A (cement:ground GBFS:fly ash:FGD gypsum = 30:44:15:11) and stabilizer B (cement:ground GBFS:fly ash:FGD gypsum = 40:38:13:9) were investigated in this study by reducing the cement content in the stabilizer and improving the utilization rate of solid wastes. The compressive strength development, California bearing ratio (CBR), temperature shrinkage, mineral composition, and micro-morphology of the stabilized silty soil were measured. The main findings are as follows: firstly, the addition of solid wastes can mitigate the adverse effect of delay time on compressive strength development. Secondly, the proposed stabilizers can significantly improve the CBR, which can reach 60% with a 4% dosage. Additionally, Stabilizer B is believed to improve the resistance to temperature shrinkage, and a higher stabilizer dosage can reduce the rate of decrease in water stability coefficient. Both X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscope observations show that the main hydration products that contribute to the stabilization are C-S-H and ettringite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Waste Recovery)

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