Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.5
2.5
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Novel Research on By-Products and Treatment of Waste
applsci-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Novel Research on By-Products and Treatment of Waste

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026 | Viewed by 8246

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carlos Morales-Polo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontificial University, Alberto Aguilera 25, 28015 Madrid, Spain
Interests: the characterization and monitoring of the anaerobic digestion of wastewater and wastes; the integration of waste and wastewater into the circular economy; waste valorization; environmental pollution analysis; the determination of microplastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Francisco Jesús Fernández Morales

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Chemical and Environmental Technologies (ITQUIMA), Department of Chemical Engineering, University Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Interests: anaerobic digestion; biogas; anaerobic fermentation; bio-hydrogen; microbial fuel cell; bio-electro systems; bioelectrochemistry; energetic valorisation of wastes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing demand for sustainable waste management solutions has intensified interest in the valorization of waste and by-products, as well as the development of innovative treatment technologies. This Special Issue aims to collect original research and comprehensive reviews on novel strategies for the treatment, recovery, and reuse of a wide range of waste streams and secondary materials—whether originating from industrial processes, agricultural activities, or from waste treatment operations themselves.

Special attention will be given to by-products that are not always at the center of valorization strategies, such as digestates, leachates, and other residual outputs generated during processes like anaerobic digestion, composting, and wastewater treatment. Emphasis will be placed on technologies that enhance the value of these materials, including biological, physicochemical, and integrated treatment systems. Contributions related to circular economy approaches, process optimization, resource recovery, and environmental impact assessments are particularly welcome.

This Special Issue encourages submissions that explore the technical, environmental, and economic dimensions of waste and by-product management, aiming to foster sustainable, efficient, and low-impact practices. By showcasing recent scientific advances and practical case studies, it seeks to contribute to the transition from waste disposal to resource recovery and reuse within a circular economy and industrial ecology framework.

Dr. Carlos Morales-Polo
Prof. Dr. Francisco Jesús Fernández Morales
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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 by-products
  • waste-derived streams
  • digestate valorization
  • waste valorization
  • anaerobic digestion
  • circular economy
  • resource recovery
  • waste-to-resource strategies
  • environmental biotechnology
  • sustainable waste management

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 1798 KB  
Article
Risk Assessment for Reducing Thermoset Waste: Predictive Modelling of Water Ageing in Epoxy Infrastructure
by Marcela Elisabeth Penoff, Guillermina Capiel, Pablo E. Montemartini and Luis A. Miccio
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 11857; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211857 - 7 Nov 2025
Viewed by 316
Abstract
Thermoset composites are a fast-growing waste stream that resists conventional reusing routes. Water is the principal ageing agent for epoxy-based thermoset materials that bind high-pressure piping, wind-turbine blades and aircraft skins, yet its action is deceptively complex: a rapid, reversible plasticisation is often [...] Read more.
Thermoset composites are a fast-growing waste stream that resists conventional reusing routes. Water is the principal ageing agent for epoxy-based thermoset materials that bind high-pressure piping, wind-turbine blades and aircraft skins, yet its action is deceptively complex: a rapid, reversible plasticisation is often followed by a far slower, irreversible chemical hydrolysis. Here we bridge that gap to access a reliable diagnosis inspection. Gravimetric immersion tests (from 8 to 93 °C, up to more than a year) and in situ FTIR spectroscopy were performed on four industrial DGEBA networks (two amine-cured matrices and two anhydride-cured matrices that hydrolyse). This 2 + 2 design isolates reversible from irreversible changes and exposes the individual signatures of diffusion, specific sorption and bond scission. The data are rationalised with a compact three-contribution model that superposes Fickian diffusion through nano-voids, adsorption site saturation through hydrogen bonds and a power-law hydrolysis term sharing global Arrhenius parameters. Since the parameters retain clear physical meaning, the approach can be extrapolated to service temperatures, providing a fast, transparent tool for lifetime prediction and for separating recoverable plasticisation from permanent chemical degradation in critical epoxy infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Research on By-Products and Treatment of Waste)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5147 KB  
Article
Valorization of Fine Recycled Concrete Aggregate By-Products from Construction Waste as a Sustainable Material for Granular Subbases: Mechanical and Environmental Assessments
by José Eduardo Salcedo Fontalvo, Daniela L. Vega A., Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza, Felipe Ángeles Puc Hernandez, Luisa Navarro Ortiz and Grey Meneses Vides
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(20), 11184; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152011184 - 18 Oct 2025
Viewed by 750
Abstract
The valorization of by-products from construction waste offers significant potential for developing sustainable materials in road infrastructure. Accordingly, this study investigates the incorporation of Fine Recycled Concrete Aggregate (FRCA) as a partial replacement of virgin aggregates in Granular Subbases (GSB), considering both mechanical [...] Read more.
The valorization of by-products from construction waste offers significant potential for developing sustainable materials in road infrastructure. Accordingly, this study investigates the incorporation of Fine Recycled Concrete Aggregate (FRCA) as a partial replacement of virgin aggregates in Granular Subbases (GSB), considering both mechanical performance and environmental impacts. Replacement levels of 10% and 15% FRCA are examined and benchmarked against standard specifications for GSB within the Colombian context. The experimental campaign is composed of grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, Proctor compaction, Los Angeles abrasion, and California bearing ratio tests. Furthermore, a cradle-to-gate life-cycle assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential environmental benefits of diverting FRCA by-products from disposal and valorizing them as construction materials. Overall, the mechanical and environmental assessments reveal that if the Los Angeles abrasion criterion is set aside (because any FRCA content surpasses the allowable limits), the optimal mixture is the one formed by 85% GSB38 and 15% FRCA. This combination satisfies the standards for high-traffic roads while providing approximately 22.5–25% relative environmental savings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Research on By-Products and Treatment of Waste)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

32 pages, 1939 KB  
Review
A Review on Anaerobic Digestate as a Biofertilizer: Characteristics, Production, and Environmental Impacts from a Life Cycle Assessment Perspective
by Carmen Martín-Sanz-Garrido, Marta Revuelta-Aramburu, Ana María Santos-Montes and Carlos Morales-Polo
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(15), 8635; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158635 - 4 Aug 2025
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6871
Abstract
Digestate valorization is essential for sustainable waste management and circular economy strategies, yet large-scale adoption faces technical, economic, and environmental challenges. Beyond waste-to-energy conversion, digestate is a valuable soil amendment, enhancing soil structure and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. However, its agronomic benefits [...] Read more.
Digestate valorization is essential for sustainable waste management and circular economy strategies, yet large-scale adoption faces technical, economic, and environmental challenges. Beyond waste-to-energy conversion, digestate is a valuable soil amendment, enhancing soil structure and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. However, its agronomic benefits depend on feedstock characteristics, treatment processes, and application methods. This study reviews digestate composition, treatment technologies, regulatory frameworks, and environmental impact assessment through Life Cycle Assessment. It analyzes the influence of functional unit selection and system boundary definitions on Life Cycle Assessment outcomes and the effects of feedstock selection, pretreatment, and post-processing on its environmental footprint and fertilization efficiency. A review of 28 JCR-indexed articles (2018–present) analyzed LCA studies on digestate, focusing on methodologies, system boundaries, and impact categories. The findings indicate that Life Cycle Assessment methodologies vary widely, complicating direct comparisons. Transportation distances, nutrient stability, and post-processing strategies significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient retention efficiency. Techniques like solid–liquid separation and composting enhance digestate stability and agronomic performance. Digestate remains a promising alternative to synthetic fertilizers despite market uncertainty and regulatory inconsistencies. Standardized Life Cycle Assessment methodologies and policy incentives are needed to promote its adoption as a sustainable soil amendment within circular economy frameworks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Research on By-Products and Treatment of Waste)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop