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Waste Treatment and Sustainable Technologies
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Waste Treatment and Sustainable Technologies

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 9913

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Seteno K. O. Ntwampe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
Interests: bioresource and bioprocess engineering; water science; technology and engineering; biotechnology engineering; green chemistry; waste management
Dr. Boredi Silas Chidi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Bioresource Engineering Research Group (BioERG), Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P.O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Interests: waste treatment; food technology; waste management; biotechnology; bioprocessing; environmental protection; fermentation technology; biocontrol
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Industrialization has resulted in the generation of various wastes. There is a consensus on industries to mitigate waste generation and develop sustainable systems to handle such waste. Sustainable development goal 12 highlights the need for sound waste management “through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse (targets 12.4 and 12.5) and reduction of food waste (target 12.3)”. The generation of waste and its disposal not only affects humans but the lives of other creatures and puts the planet we share in jeopardy, culminating in other outcomes such as climate change. Overall, it is desirable to evaluate the (de)efficiencies of current waste management systems and develop novel, sustainable technologies for waste management in the medium-term, refining them in the long-term to handle the ever-increasing quantity of waste being generated.

We are pleased to invite you to participate in this Special Issue on “Waste Treatment and Sustainable Technologies”. This Special Issue aims to highlight novel approaches to waste treatment and its management in the following broad areas: (1) agro/food-waste; (2) municipal-biosolid waste; and (3) waste from mining and metallurgical operations.

Dr. Seteno K. O. Ntwampe
Dr. Boredi Silas Chidi
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

  • agro-waste processing
  • municipal biosolid treatment and applications
  • mining and metallurgical waste treatment and applications
  • reactor development for waste treatment
  • nutrient recovery and transformation to value added products
  • waste (pre)treatment technology
  • environmental pollution and protection
  • technology in waste management
  • smart waste management systems
  • sustainability
  • recycling

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 8431 KiB  
Article
Assessing Fluoride Impact in Phosphogypsum: Strength and Leaching Behavior of Cemented Paste Backfill
by Qinli Zhang, Yikun Yang, Daolin Wang, Bin Liu, Yan Feng, Zian Song and Qiusong Chen
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 10952; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142310952 - 25 Nov 2024
Viewed by 850
Abstract
Phosphogypsum (PG)-based cemented paste backfill (PCPB) is a widely used method for the large-scale disposal of phosphoric acid waste. However, fluoride contaminants in PG pose a significant risk of groundwater pollution. Effective pretreatment methods have been developed to mitigate this issue, but there [...] Read more.
Phosphogypsum (PG)-based cemented paste backfill (PCPB) is a widely used method for the large-scale disposal of phosphoric acid waste. However, fluoride contaminants in PG pose a significant risk of groundwater pollution. Effective pretreatment methods have been developed to mitigate this issue, but there is limited research on the specific pretreatment standards needed to control fluoride leaching. This study investigates the impact of initial fluoride content (IFC) in PG samples on the strength and leaching behavior of PCPB to establish appropriate pretreatment standards. Pure CaSO4·2H2O and NaF were used to simulate PG samples with varying IFC levels. The findings indicate that lower IFC leads to stronger PCPBs after 28 days of curing. To ensure compliance with Chinese national standards, the initial fluoride concentration must be below 0.0093 wt% to prevent excessive leaching. Microlevel analyses reveal that fluoride influences the hydration reactions of C2S and C3S in cement, affecting the formation of C-S-H and Ca(OH)2. Fluoride is primarily immobilized in PCPB as CaF2, which can either form gypsum crystals within the complex structure or be adsorbed onto hydration products. This research provides crucial insights into the pretreatment standards required for controlling fluoride leaching, offering a foundation for the industrial application of PG. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Treatment and Sustainable Technologies)
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25 pages, 8304 KiB  
Article
Revealing the Protective Dynamics of an Ecologically Engineered Wetland against Acid Mine Drainage: A Case Study in South Africa
by Mariette Jansen van Vuuren, Yolandi Schoeman, Anna-Maria Botha and Paul J. Oberholster
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7441; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177441 - 23 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1295
Abstract
This study investigated the Zaalklapspruit valley bottom wetland in South Africa, an ecologically engineered site influenced by acid mine drainage (AMD) from a defunct coal mine upstream. Conducted in 2022, the research aimed to elucidate the dynamics of contaminant dispersal within this wetland, [...] Read more.
This study investigated the Zaalklapspruit valley bottom wetland in South Africa, an ecologically engineered site influenced by acid mine drainage (AMD) from a defunct coal mine upstream. Conducted in 2022, the research aimed to elucidate the dynamics of contaminant dispersal within this wetland, focusing on the sources, pathways, and receptors of metals and sulfur compounds. The analysis revealed that the wetland’s bottom sediment is rich in organic material, with pH values ranging from 6.05 to 6.59 and low oxidation-reduction potentials reaching −219.67 mV at Site S3. The significant findings included the highest adsorption rates of manganese, contrasted with iron, which was primarily absorbed by the roots of Typha capensis and the algae Klebsormidium acidophilum. The macrophyte rhizospheres were found to host diverse microbiota, including families such as Helicobacteraceae and Hydrogenophilaceae, pivotal in metal and sulfur processing. This study highlighted the complex biogeochemical interactions involving sediment, macrophyte root systems, periphyton, and microbial populations. These interactions demonstrate the efficacy of ecologically engineered wetlands in mitigating the impacts of acid mine drainage, underscoring their potential for environmental remediation. Importantly, the sustainability of such interventions highlights the need for community involvement and acceptance, acknowledging that local support is essential for the long-term success of ecological engineering solutions that address environmental challenges like AMD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Treatment and Sustainable Technologies)
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12 pages, 3270 KiB  
Article
Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Food Waste and Microalgae at Variable Mixing Ratios: Enhanced Performance, Kinetic Analysis, and Microbial Community Dynamics Investigation
by Zhiyong Pan, Xuan Sun, Yali Huang, Tian Liang, Jilai Lu, Limin Zhang and Chuang Qi
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4387; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114387 - 22 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1308
Abstract
There is an urgent need for clean recycling strategies to address the increase in food waste (FW) and the harvesting of microalgae (MA). In this study, biogas production potential and operational stability were evaluated by testing combinations of FW and MA mixed at [...] Read more.
There is an urgent need for clean recycling strategies to address the increase in food waste (FW) and the harvesting of microalgae (MA). In this study, biogas production potential and operational stability were evaluated by testing combinations of FW and MA mixed at five different ratios. Co-digestion of FW and MA improved substrate biodegradability, achieving a decomposition rate of 0.45/d (FW/MA = 1:1), which is 1.25 to 1.55 times higher than that of MA or FW alone. Co-digestion of FW and MA resulted in a synergistic effect, improving biogas yield by 2.04–26.86%. Four mathematical models were applied to estimate biological degradation and biogas production kinetics, and the Cone model performed better than the other models in terms of reliability and accuracy. The abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Synergistetes peaked at FW/MA = 1:1. At the same ratio, the genera Methanospirillum, Methanocorpusculum, and Methanomethylovorans were also found to have increased in abundance. The optimal ratio was found to be 1:1 for co-digestion of FW and MA, which is a feasible approach for simultaneous bioenergy production and biomass waste co-disposal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Treatment and Sustainable Technologies)
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Review

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16 pages, 1686 KiB  
Review
Advancements in Phytoremediation Research in South Africa (1997–2022)
by Enoch Akinbiyi Akinpelu and Felix Nchu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7660; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177660 - 29 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2300
Abstract
Several mining-related pollutions, industrial waste, and soil deterioration define South Africa’s environmental landscape. These have led to the consumption of unhealthy food, contaminated agricultural products, and polluted water. The polluted environment has been linked to numerous diseases among the populace, thus making environmental [...] Read more.
Several mining-related pollutions, industrial waste, and soil deterioration define South Africa’s environmental landscape. These have led to the consumption of unhealthy food, contaminated agricultural products, and polluted water. The polluted environment has been linked to numerous diseases among the populace, thus making environmental remediation an important issue in South Africa. Phytoremediation has been identified as a biological method for the restoration of polluted environments naturally and holistically. Therefore, it is vital to evaluate the level of phytoremediation-related research in South Africa in pursuit of a way out of environmental pollution. Thus, the purpose of this study was to map phytoremediation-related research in South Africa from inception to 2022. Statistical records from the Web of Science Core Collection were analyzed with the bibliometric package in RStudio, while mapping was performed via VOSviewer. Our study showed a low annual growth rate of publication (4.49%). The analysis uncovered that the 39 documents analyzed were written by 112 authors, and the first document was featured in the Journal of Geochemical Exploration in 1997. Kirkham, MB and Liphadzi, MS are the most relevant authors. USA has the strongest collaboration with South Africa, while the International Journal of Phytoremediation, the South African Journal of Botany, and Water SA are the most relevant journals. The result of this study can guide upcoming researchers and policymakers, together with essential facts for enhancing the restoration of the polluted environment in the country. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Treatment and Sustainable Technologies)
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