Catalytic Technologies for Solid Waste Management, Utilization, and Sustainability

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 1317

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: solid waste; recycled aggregate; concrete; building materials; nano-materials; fiber; cement; sustainability
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Solid waste management is a pressing global issue, with traditional methods like landfilling and incineration causing environmental pollution and resource wastage. Catalytic technologies offer a transformative solution, enabling efficient waste processing and resource recovery. This special issue, titled "Catalytic Technologies for Solid Waste Management, Utilization, and Sustainability", aims to present the latest advancements in this field.

We invite submissions on various aspects, including catalytic conversion of solid waste into valuable products through processes like pyrolysis, gasification, and hydrothermal liquefaction. Research on catalysts that enhance waste treatment efficiency, selectively remove hazardous substances, and minimize by-products is also welcome. Additionally, we seek studies on the development of novel catalytic materials and systems, exploring their design principles and preparation methods.

This special issue will provide a platform for researchers, engineers, and scientists to share their insights and innovations. By highlighting cutting-edge research, we hope to drive further development in catalytic waste management and promote sustainable practices. Submissions should be original, high-quality contributions that advance the understanding and application of catalytic technologies in solid waste management. 

Dr. Xuefei Chen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • solid waste
  • catalytic pyrolysis
  • gasification catalysts
  • hydrothermal liquefaction
  • waste-to-energy conversion
  • catalyst design
  • hazardous waste treatment
  • resource recovery
  • sustainable waste management
  • catalytic oxidation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1803 KB  
Article
Valorization of Eggshell Powder as a Catalytic Activation Agent for Producing Porous Carbon Materials from Lignocellulosic Waste
by Chi-Hung Tsai, Hervan Marion Morgan, Jr. and Wen-Tien Tsai
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 712; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080712 - 26 Jul 2025
Viewed by 532
Abstract
This study explored the potential of reusing eggshell powders as a renewable activating agent for producing porous carbon materials from coffee husk. Carbonization and activation experiments were conducted by heating the samples at a rate of 10 °C/min up to 850 °C under [...] Read more.
This study explored the potential of reusing eggshell powders as a renewable activating agent for producing porous carbon materials from coffee husk. Carbonization and activation experiments were conducted by heating the samples at a rate of 10 °C/min up to 850 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere. A custom-designed double steel-mesh sample holder was used to hold approximately 2.0 g coffee husk on the top, with varying masses of eggshell at the bottom to achieve eggshells to coffee husk mass ratios of 2:1, 4:1, 6:1 and 8:1. The results demonstrated that CO2 released from the thermal decomposition of the eggshell powder significantly enhanced pore development at 850 °C. Compared to the pore properties of carbon material produced without eggshell (e.g., BET surface area of 321 m2/g), the activated carbon samples exhibited substantially improved pore properties (e.g., BET surface area in the range of 592 to 715 m2/g). Furthermore, the pore characteristics improved consistently with increasing eggshell content. Observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the structural and chemical transformations of the resulting carbon materials. Under optimal carbonization-activation conditions, the resulting carbon materials derived from coffee husk exhibited microporous structures and slit-shaped pores, as indicated by the Type I isotherms and H4 hysteresis loops. Full article
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24 pages, 1259 KB  
Review
A Review on the Preparation of Catalysts Using Red Mud Resources
by Yan Zhuang, Xiaotian Wang, Kinjal J. Shah and Yongjun Sun
Catalysts 2025, 15(9), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090809 - 25 Aug 2025
Viewed by 403
Abstract
The production of alumina produces red mud (RM), a highly alkaline solid waste. The majority of it is disposed of in landfills, which seriously pollutes the environment. It needs to be recycled and handled with care to protect the environment. RM is a [...] Read more.
The production of alumina produces red mud (RM), a highly alkaline solid waste. The majority of it is disposed of in landfills, which seriously pollutes the environment. It needs to be recycled and handled with care to protect the environment. RM is a promising raw material for wastewater and waste gas treatment owing to its high alkalinity and abundant metal compounds. It can efficiently remove diverse pollutants while facilitating large-scale utilization of RM resources. Reviews of the use of RM resources to create catalysts for environmental governance are, nevertheless, scarce. Therefore, this paper analyzes and summarizes the pertinent research on RM-based catalysts to remove pollutants from the environment based on journal literature related to RM resource utilization from 2015 to 2025. This study reviews the application of RM-based catalysts for degrading pollutants in wastewater and exhaust gases via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs)—including photocatalysis, Fenton-like catalysis, ozonation catalysis, and persulfate catalysis—as well as catalytic oxidation, chemical looping combustion (CLC), and selective catalytic reduction (SCR). The paper emphasizes the analysis of modification strategies and catalytic mechanisms of RM-based catalysts in environmental remediation and examines the environmental risks and corresponding mitigation measures related to their preparation from RM resources. Finally, it outlines that future research should prioritize green, low-energy modification processes; catalytic systems for the synergistic removal of multiple pollutants; and efficient, recyclable separation and recovery technologies. These directions aim to promote the sustainable application of RM in large-scale environmental remediation and to achieve the integrated advancement of resource utilization and ecological protection. Full article
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