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1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems
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1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 October 2025 | Viewed by 8074

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Lyberatos

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Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechneiou 9, Zografou, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: biochemical engineering; environmental technologies; waste treatment and valorization
Dr. Leonidas Matsakas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources, Luleå University of Technology, 971 87 Luleå, Sweden
Interests: biomass pretreatment and fractionation; organosolv; bioenergy; biofuels; biomaterials; heterotrophic growth of algae; production of nutraceutical compounds; lignin valorization; enzymatic processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nikolaos A. Diangelakis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece
Interests: process systems engineering; multi-scale process engineering; process optimization; process control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue features contributions from the 1st SUSTENS Meeting, held online from June 4 to 5, 2025, showcasing high-quality scientific work of lasting significance.

This Special Issue aims to cover a wide range of innovative methods, tools, and paradigms that address current challenges in engineering and sustainability. These include advancements in process design, integration, and optimization; Carbon Capture and Storage/Utilization; circular economy models; the integration of cutting-edge technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, digital twins, etc.) in chemical engineering; emerging green and innovative technologies; bioprocessing; and biotechnology.

The topics of the Special Issue are aligned with the topics of the 1st SUSTENS Meeting:

  1. Process design, modeling, and integration;
  2. Sustainable energy and circularity;
  3. Machine learning applications in engineering;
  4. Green and innovative chemistries and technologies;
  5. Advances in biotechnology.

Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Lyberatos
Dr. Leonidas Matsakas
Dr. Nikolaos A. Diangelakis
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. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • process design
  • sustainability
  • machine learning
  • green technologies
  • biotechnology

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 8193 KiB  
Article
Development of Real-Time Fire Detection Robotic System with Hybrid-Cascade Machine Learning Detection Structure
by Hilmi Saygin Sucuoglu
Processes 2025, 13(6), 1712; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13061712 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 347
Abstract
Fire is a destructive hazard impacting residential, industrial, and forested environments. Once ignited, fire becomes difficult to control, and recovery efforts are often extensive. Therefore, early detection is critical for effective firefighting. This study presents a mobile robotic system designed for early fire [...] Read more.
Fire is a destructive hazard impacting residential, industrial, and forested environments. Once ignited, fire becomes difficult to control, and recovery efforts are often extensive. Therefore, early detection is critical for effective firefighting. This study presents a mobile robotic system designed for early fire detection, integrating a Raspberry Pi, RGB (red, green and blue), and night vision-NIR (near infrared reflectance) cameras. A four-stage hybrid-cascade machine learning model was developed by combining state-of-the-art (SotA) models separately trained on RGB and NIR images. The system accounts for both daytime and nighttime conditions, achieving F1 scores of 96.7% and 95.9%, respectively, on labeled fire/non-fire datasets. Unlike previous single-stage or two-stage vision pipelines, our work delivers a lightweight four-stage hybrid cascade that jointly fuses RGB and NIR imagery, integrates temporal consistency via ConvLSTM, and projects a robot-centric “safe-approach distance” in real time, establishing a novel edge-level solution for mobile robotic fire detection. Based on real-life test results, the robotic system with this new hybrid-cascade model could detect the fire source from a safe distance of 500 mm and with notably higher accuracy compared to structures with other models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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19 pages, 2366 KiB  
Article
Data Augmentation and Machine Learning for Heavy Metal Detection in Mulberry Leaves Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Spectral Data
by Heiner Castro Gutiérrez, Carlos Robles-Algarín and Aura Polo
Processes 2025, 13(6), 1688; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13061688 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 296
Abstract
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a rapid, cost-effective technique for elemental analysis that enables real-time measurements with minimal sample preparation. However, LIBS datasets are often high-dimensional and imbalanced, limiting the performance of conventional machine-learning models due to small sample sizes. To address this, [...] Read more.
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a rapid, cost-effective technique for elemental analysis that enables real-time measurements with minimal sample preparation. However, LIBS datasets are often high-dimensional and imbalanced, limiting the performance of conventional machine-learning models due to small sample sizes. To address this, we propose a novel data augmentation method that generates synthetic samples using normal distribution sampling. This approach is justified by the central limit theorem, since each spectrum in the dataset used in this study results from averaging over 80 measurements per sample, yielding approximately Gaussian-distributed features. We also apply a dimensionality reduction method based on random forest feature importance, selecting features that account for 95% of cumulative importance. This selection reduces model complexity while preserving performance. Using random forest for both feature selection and modeling, our approach achieves superior accuracy for copper and competitive performance for chromium detection in mulberry leaves. Additionally, the selected wavelengths partially match reference lines reported by NIST, supporting model interpretability. These findings highlight the potential of combining data augmentation and machine learning for more robust and interpretable LIBS-based heavy metal detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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25 pages, 920 KiB  
Article
A Sustainable Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Framework for Online Grocery Distribution Hub Location Selection
by Emir Hüseyin Özder
Processes 2025, 13(6), 1653; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13061653 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 481
Abstract
The rapid expansion of online grocery shopping has intensified the need for strategically located distribution hubs that ensure efficient and sustainable operations. Traditional location models emphasize economic and logistical factors but often neglect energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. This paper proposes a hybrid [...] Read more.
The rapid expansion of online grocery shopping has intensified the need for strategically located distribution hubs that ensure efficient and sustainable operations. Traditional location models emphasize economic and logistical factors but often neglect energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. This paper proposes a hybrid decision-making model that integrates the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the spherical fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (SFTOPSIS) to address the complexities of delivery hub location selection. The AHP is used to determine the relative importance of key decision-making criteria, including cost, accessibility, infrastructure, competition, and sustainability, while SFTOPSIS ranks the candidate locations based on their proximity to the ideal solution. Spherical fuzzy sets allow for a more nuanced treatment of uncertainty, improving decision-making accuracy in dynamic environments. The results demonstrate that this hybrid approach effectively manages incomplete and uncertain data, delivering a robust ranking of candidate locations. By incorporating sustainability as a key factor, this study provides a structured and adaptive framework for businesses to optimize logistics operations in the post-pandemic landscape. The proposed methodology not only enhances decision-making in location selection but contributes to the development of more resilient and sustainable supply chain strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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24 pages, 7008 KiB  
Article
Comparison Between AICV, ICD, and Liner Completions in the Displacement Front and Production Efficiency in Heavy Oil Horizontal Wells
by Andres Pinilla, Miguel Asuaje and Nicolas Ratkovich
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1576; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051576 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 324
Abstract
Autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs) offer a promising means of delaying early water breakthrough in heavy oil horizontal wells; yet, current design practices remain largely empirical. A three-dimensional, field-calibrated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to establish a mechanistic basis that solves [...] Read more.
Autonomous inflow control devices (AICDs) offer a promising means of delaying early water breakthrough in heavy oil horizontal wells; yet, current design practices remain largely empirical. A three-dimensional, field-calibrated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to establish a mechanistic basis that solves the transient Navier–Stokes equations for turbulent two-phase flow via a volume-of-fluid formulation. Pressure-controlled inflow boundaries were tuned to build up data from four Colombian heavy oil producers, enabling a quantitative comparison with production logs. Model predictions deviate by no more than ±14% for oil rate and ±10% for water rate over a 500-day horizon, providing confidence in subsequent scenario analysis. Replacing a slotted liner completion with optimally sized AICDs lowers cumulative water-cut by up to 93%, reduces annular friction losses by 18%, and cuts estimated life cycle CO2 emissions per stock-tank barrel by 82%. Sensitivity analysis identifies nozzle diameter as the dominant design variable, with a nonlinear interaction between local drawdown pressure and the oil–water viscosity ratio. These findings demonstrate that CFD-guided AICD design can materially extend wells’ economic life while delivering substantial environmental benefits. The validated workflow establishes a low-risk, physics-based path for tailoring AICDs to reservoir conditions before field deployment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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24 pages, 3124 KiB  
Article
Trends in Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contamination in Bucharest’s Urban Soils: A Two-Decade Perspective (2002–2022)
by Mirela Alina Sandu, Mihaela Preda, Veronica Tanase, Denis Mihailescu, Ana Virsta and Veronica Ivanescu
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051357 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 453
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic compounds that were widely used in industrial applications throughout the 20th century. Due to their chemical stability, resistance to degradation and ability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through food chains, PCBs pose long-term environmental and health risks. Due [...] Read more.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic compounds that were widely used in industrial applications throughout the 20th century. Due to their chemical stability, resistance to degradation and ability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify through food chains, PCBs pose long-term environmental and health risks. Due to these characteristics, PCBs have been globally regulated as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), despite being banned from production in most countries decades ago. This study investigates temporal trends in PCB contamination in urban soils of Bucharest over a 20-year period (2002–2022), focusing on six principal congeners (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) sampled from 13 locations, including roadsides and urban parks. Gas chromatography and spatial analysis using inverse distance weighting (IDW) revealed a marked reduction in Σ6PCB concentrations, declining from 0.0159 mg/kg in 2002 to 0.0065 mg/kg in 2022, with statistically significant differences confirmed by Kruskal–Wallis analysis (p < 0.05). This decline is primarily attributed to reduced emissions, source control measures, and natural attenuation. However, the persistence of PCBs in localized hotspots is influenced by secondary dispersion mechanisms, such as atmospheric deposition and surface runoff, which redistribute contaminants rather than eliminate them. Health risk assessments via ingestion, dermal absorption, and inhalation routes confirmed negligible carcinogenic risk for both adults and children. Although measurable progress has been achieved, the persistence of localized contamination underscores the need for targeted remediation strategies and sustained environmental monitoring to protect vulnerable urban areas from recontamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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15 pages, 4205 KiB  
Article
Kinetics Study of Hydrogen Production by Aluminum Alloy Corrosion in Aqueous Acid Solutions: Effect of HCl Concentration
by Ana L. Martínez-Salazar, Luciano Aguilera-Vázquez, Pedro M. García-Vite, Nelson Rangel-Valdez, Carlos Vega-Ortíz and Marco A. Coronel-García
Processes 2025, 13(3), 798; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13030798 - 9 Mar 2025
Viewed by 991
Abstract
The current high cost of producing green hydrogen, for use as an energy vector, has motivated the search for the development of non-conventional technologies for its production, joining forces on the path towards energy transition. Hydrogen production by aluminum corrosion in aqueous acid [...] Read more.
The current high cost of producing green hydrogen, for use as an energy vector, has motivated the search for the development of non-conventional technologies for its production, joining forces on the path towards energy transition. Hydrogen production by aluminum corrosion in aqueous acid solutions seems to be a promising alternative. In order to evaluate its technical feasibility, a kinetic study was carried out, analyzing the impact of HCl concentration (1.125 to 1.75 M) on the aluminum corrosion capacity under the presence of a saline environment and using a promoter, fitting the proposed models to the data obtained through experimental runs. Although other studies use the shrinking core model to describe the kinetics of this type of reaction, in most cases, it does not fit well with the experimental data and needs to be modified. Finally, by considering the corrosion dynamics (variations in diffusion coefficients and shell thickness) in the kinetic model equations, it was possible to describe its behavior. For low HCl concentrations, a single resistance controls the reaction of the particle throughout; however, for high HCl concentrations, a combination of related equations must be used. The results of this study enable viable continuous reactor designs for a given amount of green hydrogen production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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18 pages, 10824 KiB  
Article
Co-Producing Xylo-Oligosaccharides, 5-HMF, Furfural, Organic Acids, and Reducing Sugars from Waste Poplar Debris by Clean Hydrothermal Pretreatment
by Yuheng Yang, Ruibing Cui, Wei Tang, Bo Fan and Yucai He
Processes 2025, 13(3), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13030665 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 463
Abstract
The sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added biobased chemicals has gained more and more attention on a large industrial scale. To efficiently utilize the abundant, inexpensive, and renewable biomass, it is necessary to employ an effective biomass pretreatment technology for breaking down [...] Read more.
The sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added biobased chemicals has gained more and more attention on a large industrial scale. To efficiently utilize the abundant, inexpensive, and renewable biomass, it is necessary to employ an effective biomass pretreatment technology for breaking down hemicellulose and lignin. Hydrothermal pretreatment is an effective way to change the structure of lignocellulose and improve its enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. The hydrothermal cleaning of waste poplar debris (PD) was conducted when the severity factor (LogR0) score was 5.49. At 220 °C and a solid–liquid ratio of 1:10 for 90 min, the pretreatment liquor contained 4.90 g/L of xylo-oligosaccharides, 1.23 g/L of furfural, 0.41 g/L of formic acid, 2.42 g/L of acetic acid, and 0.57 g/L of 5-HMF. Additionally, 74.9% xylan and 82.4% lignin were removed. After 72 h of enzymatic saccharification, a high enzymolysis efficiency of PD was obtained. A series of characterizations (such as chemical composition analysis, hydrophobicity, lignin surface area, and cellulase accessibility) indicated that hydrothermal pretreatment destroyed the surface structure of PD, improved cellulose accessibility, decreased lignin surface area and weakened lignin hydrophobicity. In general, hydrothermal pretreatment is a simple, green, and environmentally friendly approach for sustainable pretreatment of PD using water as a solvent. It can efficiently break the surface structure of PD and remove lignin and xylan, acquiring high enzymolysis efficiency and realizing the co-production of 5-HMF, furfural, xylo-oligosaccharides, and organic acids. It provides an innovative idea for the value-added utilization of wood-based and straw-based biomass in a sustainable and cost-effective way, showing high potential in industrial application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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16 pages, 2594 KiB  
Article
Study of the Viability of Separating Mixtures of Water–Bioethanol Using a Neoteric Solvent: 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide
by Maria-Pilar Cumplido, Javier de la Torre, Maria-Camila Arango, Josep Pasqual Cerisuelo and Amparo Chafer
Processes 2025, 13(2), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13020580 - 18 Feb 2025
Viewed by 403
Abstract
Following the successful utilization of various 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids (ILs) as effective solvents in the extraction of ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol from water, we conducted experiments to determine the liquid–liquid equilibria data for the ternary mixture comprising water, ethanol, and 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [...] Read more.
Following the successful utilization of various 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids (ILs) as effective solvents in the extraction of ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol from water, we conducted experiments to determine the liquid–liquid equilibria data for the ternary mixture comprising water, ethanol, and 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([dmim][Tf2N]) at temperatures of 283.2 K, 303.2 K, and 323.2 K under atmospheric pressure. The thermodynamic parameters for both ternary mixtures were calculated using the non-random two-liquid (NRTL) and universal quasichemical (UNIQUAC) models, yielding favorable results across all investigated conditions (rmsd < 0.65%). Subsequently, we explored the efficiency of [dmim][Tf2N] in separating azeotropic mixtures by analyzing the distribution coefficient and selectivity (K2 and S greater than 1 in all cases, with maximum values of 3.551 and 10.878, respectively). Comparative assessments were made against the performance of various 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ILs and alcohols. The findings underscore the promising capabilities of [dmim][Tf2N] in achieving effective separation, providing valuable insights for potential applications in liquid–liquid extraction processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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18 pages, 2229 KiB  
Article
Occurrence, Transport, and Risk Assessment of Brominated Flame Retardants in Northern Wetland Multimedia
by Bo Meng, Xi-Mei Lu, Jing-Wen Jia, Fei Chen, Zhi-Zhong Zhang, Shan-Shan Jia, Ming-Song Wu, Zi-Feng Zhang and Yi-Fan Li
Processes 2025, 13(2), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13020423 - 5 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1121
Abstract
Current studies have paid extensive attention to the occurrence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in aquatic environments; however, there is a lack of exploration of BFRs in ice media in freshwater environments, and there are fewer studies on the distribution patterns and ecological [...] Read more.
Current studies have paid extensive attention to the occurrence of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in aquatic environments; however, there is a lack of exploration of BFRs in ice media in freshwater environments, and there are fewer studies on the distribution patterns and ecological risks of BFRs in different media. In order to fill this gap in the current research status, this study conducted four seasonal samplings in the Songhua River wetland in Northeast China. The distribution and risk of 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and 22 new brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in water, ice, sediment, and soil were analyzed using liquid–liquid extraction sample pretreatment and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry instrumentation. A total of 18, 5, 8, 19, and 18 BFRs were detected in non-ice-covered water, ice-covered water, ice, sediment, and soil, respectively. NBFRs dominated contaminant concentrations in each medium. Significant correlations were found between BFRs in ice and subglacial water, suggesting that the sources of BFRs in these two media are similar and there is an exchange between them. The ice enrichment factor (IEF) revealed the water–ice distribution mechanism of BFRs, indicating that wetland ice acts as a temporary sink for 2-(Allyloxy)-1,3,5-tribromobenzene (ATE), 1,2-Dibromo-4-(1,2-dibromoethyl)cyclohexane (α-TBECH), 1,2,5,6-Tetrabromocyclooctane (TBCO), and 2-Bromoallyl 2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (BATE). In order to achieve dynamic equilibrium, the exchange profile of BFRs between water and sediment requires the release of BFRs into water. The risk quotient (RQ) indicated that TBCO in water and ice poses a moderate risk to aquatic organisms, and its potential impact on wetland ecology cannot be ignored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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Review

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21 pages, 1500 KiB  
Review
Machine Learning for the Optimization and Performance Prediction of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells: A Review
by Mahmoud Makki Abadi and Mohammad Mehdi Rashidi
Processes 2025, 13(3), 875; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13030875 - 16 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1227
Abstract
Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) represent a promising technology because they have the potential to achieve greater efficiency than existing electrolysis methods, making them a strong candidate for sustainable hydrogen production. SOECs utilize a solid oxide electrolyte, which facilitates the migration of oxygen [...] Read more.
Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) represent a promising technology because they have the potential to achieve greater efficiency than existing electrolysis methods, making them a strong candidate for sustainable hydrogen production. SOECs utilize a solid oxide electrolyte, which facilitates the migration of oxygen ions while maintaining gas impermeability at temperatures between 600 °C and 900 °C. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in research and development at the intersection of machine learning and SOECs technology. It emphasizes how data-driven methods can improve performance prediction, facilitate material discovery, and enhance operational efficiency, with a particular focus on materials for cathode-supported cells. This paper also addresses the challenges associated with implementing machine learning for SOECs, such as data scarcity and the need for robust validation techniques. This paper aims to address challenges related to material degradation and the intricate electrochemical behaviors observed in SOECs. It provides a description of the reactions that may be involved in the degradation mechanisms, taking into account thermodynamic and kinetic factors. This information is utilized to construct a fault tree, which helps categorize various faults and enhances understanding of the relationship between their causes and symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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21 pages, 1939 KiB  
Review
Innovative Thermal Stabilization Methods for Expansive Soils: Mechanisms, Applications, and Sustainable Solutions
by Abdullah H. Alsabhan and Wagdi Hamid
Processes 2025, 13(3), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13030775 - 7 Mar 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 976
Abstract
The thermal stabilization of expansive soils has emerged as a promising and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical stabilization methods, addressing the long-standing challenges associated with soil swelling and shrinkage. This review critically evaluates the mechanisms, applications, and advancements in thermal stabilization techniques, with [...] Read more.
The thermal stabilization of expansive soils has emerged as a promising and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical stabilization methods, addressing the long-standing challenges associated with soil swelling and shrinkage. This review critically evaluates the mechanisms, applications, and advancements in thermal stabilization techniques, with a particular focus on both traditional approaches (e.g., kiln heating) and emerging innovations such as microwave heating. This study synthesizes recent research findings to assess how thermal treatment modifies the mineralogical, physical, and mechanical properties of expansive soils, reducing their plasticity and improving their strength characteristics. Comparative analysis highlights the advantages, limitations, and sustainability implications of different thermal methods, considering factors such as energy efficiency, scalability, and environmental impact. While thermal stabilization offers a viable alternative to chemical treatments, key challenges remain regarding cost, field implementation, and long-term performance validation. The integration of thermal treatment with complementary techniques, such as lime stabilization, is explored as a means to enhance soil stability while minimizing environmental impact. By addressing critical research gaps and providing a comprehensive perspective on the future potential of thermal stabilization, this review contributes valuable insights for researchers and engineers seeking innovative and sustainable solutions for managing expansive soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 1st SUSTENS Meeting: Advances in Sustainable Engineering Systems)
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