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Emerging Green Technologies for Solid Waste Management: A Contribution to Sustainable Environmental Practices and Circular Economy

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 10318

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yuan-Chung (Oliver) Lin

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Guest Editor

Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
Interests: renewable energy; waste reduction and re-utilization; resource recovery; green technologies; pollutants emissions reduction; emerging contaminants; solvent extractions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Kassian T.T. Amesho

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Guest Editor

Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
Interests: biofuels/bioenergy production; bioresources utilization; biorefinery; circular economy; high-added-value products; green solvents; sustainable solid-waste management; air pollution control technologies; microplastics (MPs) pollution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable solid waste management has increasingly become an important global concern, particularly with respect to preserving and sustaining value in solid waste resources. Diverse needs for sustainable solid waste management arise as a result of local socio-economic differences, resulting in a wide range of waste reduction, recovery, and recycling solutions. In this regard, it is critical to accurately interpret new policies in light of the Circular Economy. Thus, this Special Issue is entitled Emerging Green Technologies for Solid Waste Management: A Contribution to Sustainable Environmental Practices and the Circular Economy.

As sustainable environmental practices and the circular economy have become areas of increasing interest and concern, our aim is to publish articles on recent research focusing on innovative technologies and concepts, models, and tools for sustainable solid waste management. This particular Special Issue is an effort to reinforce the scientific potential in the field of sustainable waste management by publishing highly innovative theoretical and experimental studies that will lead to a profound understanding of the applications of green technologies for sustainable solid waste management systems consistent with the core principles of sustainable environmental practices and the circular economy.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Life cycle assessment of solid waste management;
State-of-the-art approaches for sustainable solid waste management and resource recycling;
Green conversion of biomass waste into clean energy or environmentally benign products.;
Green technologies for waste-to-energy conversion;
Sustainable processes for the management of e-waste;
Sustainable utilization of biomass waste;
Techno-economic aspects of sustainable solid waste management;
Environmental, economic, and social impacts of solid waste prevention measures and management systems/technologies;
Advanced optimization strategies for synergic miminization of solid wastes and maximization of recoveries;
Applications of artificial intelligence in solid waste management.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Yuan-Chung (Oliver) Lin
Dr. Kassian T.T. Amesho
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

sustainable solid-waste management
resource recovery
circular economy
cleaner production
biofuels from waste materials
green solvents for resources recovery
emissions reduction
solid waste recycling technologies
waste reduction and re-utilization
emerging green technologies
high-added-value products

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 21969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Valorization of Dredged Harbor Sediments through Lightweight Aggregate Production: Application of Waste Oyster Shells

by Yee Cheng Lim, Chih-Feng Chen, Chiu-Wen Chen and Cheng-Di Dong

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5466; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065466 - 20 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1308

Abstract

The treatment and valorization of wastes such as dredged harbor sediments and oyster shells have become critical for environmental management. In order to promote waste valorization and resource sustainability, this study evaluated the feasibility of using harbor sediments and oyster shells for lightweight aggregate (LWA) production. The effects of the oyster shell content and sintering temperature on the sediment-based LWA properties, including particle density (PD), water absorption (WA), and crushing strength (CS), were investigated. The engineering applicability of the sediment-based LWAs was also assessed. The results showed that it was feasible to use harbor sediments admixed with oyster shells to produce LWAs that were suitable for engineering applications. The LWA properties were highly varied according to the sintering temperature and oyster shell content. Remarkably, the LWAs prepared with a 5–15% oyster shell content and sintered at 1125 °C were suitable for structural lightweight concrete (PD: 1.73–1.83 g/cm³, WA: 12.2–15.1%, CS: 7.2–10.4 MPa). The open porosity was a key factor affecting the particle density, water absorption, and crushing strength of the LWAs. Moreover, the leachability of toxic metals and chloride ions in the LWAs complied with the regulations for building materials in Taiwan. Waste oyster shells could be an excellent additive to lower the optimal sintering temperature required for sediment-based LWA production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Green Technologies for Solid Waste Management: A Contribution to Sustainable Environmental Practices and Circular Economy)

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15 pages, 1952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organic Wastes Augment the Eco-Restoration Potential of Bamboo Species on Fly Ash-Degraded Land: A Field Study

by Riya Sawarkar, Adnan Shakeel, Piyush A. Kokate and Lal Singh

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010755 - 31 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2480

Abstract

Rapid industrialization has been a major cause of land degradation and other environmental problems globally. Most energy inputs in industries depend on coal-burning power stations which release various pollutants into the environment. Among these pollutants, fly ash is a concerning pollutant for soil quality, as it occupies a voluminous area of land in India and renders it unproductive. Therefore, this work attempts to evaluate the organic amendment-facilitated bioremediation/phytoremediation of fly ash-degraded land through bamboo plantations under field conditions. Three species of bamboo, Bambusa balcooa, B. tulda, and B. bambos, were planted on fly ash dumpsite soil amended with a combined dose of pressmud and farmyard manure. Results demonstrate that after two years of plantation, all the physicochemical attributes of the degraded land were improved considerably compared to the initial observations. Although all the bamboo species exhibited promising phytoremediation potential, variations were observed in their phytoremediation mechanisms: B. balcooa was the most ideal phytostabilizer species for Cu, Zn, and Ni. B. bambos was found as an ideal phytostabilizer of Pb and Zn while B. tulda was found as a phytoextractor of Cr and Zn. Additionally, all the bamboo species sequestrated atmospheric CO₂ considerably, resulting in overall environmental restoration of the degraded area; B. balcooa was the most ideal species. Moreover, B. balcooa exhibited the highest air pollution tolerance index compared to other species. This study, therefore, recommends that a comprehensive analysis of organic matter-mediated phytoremediation would assist environmental managers to formulate sustainable eco-restoration strategies, ensuring a sustainable solution to land degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Green Technologies for Solid Waste Management: A Contribution to Sustainable Environmental Practices and Circular Economy)

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20 pages, 2479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustaining the Environment: Critical Success Factors and Barriers of Solid Waste Management through Composting Practices by Rural Communities in Malaysia

by Nurul Azita Salleh, Mohd Wira Mohd Shafiei, Aviasti Anwar, Faisal Zulhumadi and Siti Khadijah Hubadillah

Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13541; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013541 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2040

Abstract

Generally, rural areas can contain large amounts of organic and household wastes, which on average, is rarely managed well. Meanwhile, composting is a waste management method that decomposes organic waste biologically, thus contributing toward better waste management and environmental sustainability. However, exposure to more efficient waste management methods and the knowledge of the importance of composting are still low among rural communities. These communities also do not realise that composting has the added potential benefit of increasing household income. Therefore, this exploratory study was performed guided by two objectives, first to identify the critical success factors of composting practice for improving the economy and quality of life among rural communities, and second, to identify factors that hinder this composting practice. A quantitative approach was used for this purpose, where data were obtained through non-probability sampling from respondents located in 32 rural villages in the Kubang Pasu District of Kedah, Malaysia. The results of this study revealed that villagers living outside of city limits do not practice composting as part of their waste management. Among the barriers that were identified as preventing composting practice in these rural village communities, were the lack of knowledge, awareness, and interest in composting. However, some of these respondents indicated that they were aware of composting through television, radio, social media, newspapers, and from various programmes organised by certain organisations. In conclusion, this study has provided information as a guide to stakeholders for them to act by further educating rural communities about composting, perhaps highlighting more the potential benefits of earning a side income through the adoption of composting practices by producing and selling compost fertilisers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Green Technologies for Solid Waste Management: A Contribution to Sustainable Environmental Practices and Circular Economy)

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Review

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27 pages, 4349 KiB

Open AccessReview

Towards Sustainable Energy: Harnessing Microalgae Biofuels for a Greener Future

by Indrajeet Singh, Ashutosh Pandey, Sumarlin Shangdiar, Piyush Kant Rai, Ajay Kumar, Kassian T. T. Amesho and Faizal Bux

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 14029; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151814029 - 21 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2337

Abstract

Bioenergy productions from microalgae have received wide attention recently and have a high potential to replace fossil fuels. Moreover, due to the high photosynthetic efficiency, microalgae mass cultivation and scale-up are believed to efficiently reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. This review article explores the potential of microalgae as a reliable and sustainable source of bioenergy feedstock. The current review article contains an in-depth discussion of the various methods of producing energy using microalgae, viz. algal fuel cell (AFC), microbial fuel cell (MFC), bioethanol and biodiesel, and various other applications. This article discussed the different aspects of AFC and MFC, such as fuel cell configurations, reaction mechanisms at electrodes, reactor design factors affecting the efficiencies, and strategies to enhance the efficiencies. Moreover, microalgae cultivation, value-added compounds (pigments, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids), liquid fuel production, limitations, the global scenario of microalgae biomass-based energy, and significant advancements in this field. In a nutshell, this review serves as a valuable resource for identifying, developing, and harnessing the potential of microalgae as a promising biofuel source. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Green Technologies for Solid Waste Management: A Contribution to Sustainable Environmental Practices and Circular Economy)

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