Energy Recovery in Wastewater Treatment: Methods and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Vast amounts of water, valuable energy, and agricultural nutrients could be recovered from the ever-growing volume of wastewater produced globally. Specifically, there is an enormous opportunity for energy recovery and climate change mitigation through effective wastewater treatment. This Special Issue seeks contributions that showcase wastewater treatment approaches that integrate energy resource recovery to promote circularity, reduce dependence on energy from the grid by treatment plants, and ensure that plants are net energy producers where possible. Research should focus on laboratory, pilot, and field-scale studies, highlighting innovative techniques and techno-economic assessments for full-scale implementation.

Potential technologies for exploration include the following:

• Anaerobic digestion: harnessing the microbial breakdown of organic matter to produce biogas, which can be converted into electricity, heat, or transportation fuel.
• Membrane bioreactors: utilizing membranes to separate solids and organics from wastewater, enabling efficient nutrient recovery and energy generation through subsequent processes.
• Hybrid systems: combining multiple technologies to optimize energy recovery and resource utilization, such as integrating anaerobic digestion with membrane filtration or electrochemical treatment.

By promoting energy self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on the grid, these approaches can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future. This Special Issue invites researchers to share their insights and advancements in the field of wastewater treatment for energy recovery.

Dr. John Kabuba
Prof. Dr. Peter Ogbemudia Osifo
Dr. Benton Otieno
Guest Editors

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