Exploring Microbial Innovations in Solid Waste Transformation and Soil Rejuvenation

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore cutting-edge research and innovative technologies in the realm of microbial-assisted approaches to solid waste treatment and soil remediation. It encompasses studies investigating the role of microbial communities in biodegradation, bioconversion, and bioremediation processes targeting various types of solid waste and contaminated soils. Topics may include, but are not limited to, microbial diversity and function, biogeochemical cycling, bioaugmentation, and biostimulation techniques.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to advance understanding and promote the adoption of microbial-assisted strategies for sustainable waste management and soil restoration. By bringing together contributions from researchers and practitioners in the field, it aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, showcase innovative methodologies, and highlight the potential of microbial solutions to address environmental challenges associated with solid waste pollution and soil degradation. Ultimately, this Special Issue seeks to contribute to the development of effective, eco-friendly approaches for mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic activities on terrestrial ecosystems.

• The aim of the Special Issue and how the subject relates to the journal’s scope.

The aim of this Special Issue is to investigate the latest advancements and applications of microbial-assisted techniques in solid waste treatment and soil remediation. By compiling cutting-edge research and innovative methodologies, this Special Issue seeks to explore the role of microbial communities in addressing environmental challenges associated with waste management and soil contamination. Through this exploration, this Special Issue aims to foster a deeper understanding of microbial processes and their potential for sustainable waste treatment and soil restoration practices.

This Special Issue aligns closely with the scope of the journal, which is dedicated to publishing research at the intersection of environmental science, biotechnology, and microbiology. The subject matter of microbial-assisted solid waste treatment and soil remediation directly addresses key themes within the journal's scope, including bioremediation, environmental microbiology, and sustainable waste management. By examining the application of microbial techniques in addressing pressing environmental issues, this Special Issue contributes valuable insights to the broader field of environmental science and aligns with the journal's mission to advance knowledge and solutions for a sustainable future.

Suggested themes:

• Microbial Diversity and Functionality in Solid Waste Treatment: Exploring the role of microbial communities in the breakdown and transformation of different types of solid waste materials;
• Bioconversion of Organic Waste: Investigating microbial processes involved in the conversion of organic waste into valuable by-products such as biogas, compost, and biofuels;
• Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils: Examining microbial-assisted techniques for the remediation of soils contaminated with pollutants, including heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and pesticides;
• Bioaugmentation Strategies: Assessing the efficacy of introducing specific microbial strains or consortia to enhance the biodegradation capabilities of contaminated environments;
• Biostimulation Techniques: Investigating methods for stimulating indigenous microbial populations to accelerate the natural degradation of pollutants in soil and groundwater;
• Microbial Electrochemical Technologies: Exploring innovative approaches such as microbial fuel cells and electrobioremediation for sustainable waste treatment and energy recovery;
• Synthetic Biology and Engineered Microbes: Discussing advancements in synthetic biology techniques for designing microbial systems tailored to specific waste treatment and remediation tasks;
• Microbial Metabolic Engineering: Examining strategies for engineering microbial metabolism to optimize the degradation of complex pollutants and enhance resource recovery from waste streams;
• Microbial Biofilms in Waste Treatment Systems: Investigating the role of microbial biofilms in enhancing the efficiency and resilience of waste treatment processes, including biofilm-based reactors and filtration systems;
• Microbial-Assisted Phytoremediation: Exploring the synergistic interactions between plants and microorganisms in remediation strategies, including the use of plant–microbe partnerships to enhance soil detoxification and nutrient cycling.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: sustainable land management practices, microbial biosensors, bioreactor design and optimization, etc.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Yutao Peng
Dr. Chungyu Guan
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.

• biodegradation
• microbial communities
• phytoremediation
• soil health