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Processes
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Waste Supermaterials: Engineered Multifunctional Composites for Dual Water-Waste Solutions
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Waste Supermaterials: Engineered Multifunctional Composites for Dual Water-Waste Solutions

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 3483

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marija Simić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, 86 Franchet d’Esperey St., 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: adsorption technologies; material characterization; waste management; biomass conversion; water purification; environmental protection; thermochemical conversion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jelena T Petrović

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Central Laboratory for Testing, Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: waste biomass utilization; thermochemical technologies; hydrothermal carbonization; carbon materials; biofuel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marija Koprivica

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, 86 Franchet d’Esperey St., 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: biomass conversion; biochar and hydrochar production; environmental protection; waste management; biosorption
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, Waste Supermaterials: Engineered Multifunctional Composites for Dual Water-Waste Solutions, will spotlight the latest advancements in the development of multifunctional composite materials derived from waste resources. It will focus on innovative strategies that transform waste into high-performance materials capable of addressing two of the most pressing global challenges: water purification and waste management.

We welcome original research and review articles that explore the design, synthesis, and application of waste-derived supermaterials with dual-functionality. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, advanced adsorbents, photocatalysts, and membrane materials from industrial, agricultural, or municipal waste; smart composites for wastewater treatment; and circular economy approaches that link waste valorization with water treatment technologies.

By bringing together multidisciplinary research from materials science, environmental engineering, and sustainable chemistry, this Special Issue will provide a comprehensive platform for novel solutions that contribute to cleaner water and a cleaner planet.

We look forward to your valuable contributions, which will help us to shape the future of sustainable materials and integrated environmental solutions.

Dr. Marija Simić
Dr. Jelena Petrović
Dr. Marija Koprivica
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. Processes 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

  • waste-derived materials
  • multifunctional composites
  • water treatment
  • waste valorization
  • circular economy
  • adsorbents
  • photocatalysts
  • sustainable materials
  • environmental remediation
  • membrane technology

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 9113 KB  
Article
Selective Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Electric Motors in End-of-Life Vehicles via Copper Slag for Sustainability
by Erdenebold Urtnasan, Chang-Jeong Kim, Yeon-Jun Chung and Jei-Pil Wang
Processes 2025, 13(11), 3502; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13113502 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1497
Abstract
Discarded NdFeB permanent magnets will become a significant source of rare earth elements (REEs) in the future. Electric vehicle (EV) motors utilize 2–5 kg of NdFeB magnets, and researchers are prioritizing the development of suitable extraction technologies. The objective of our research is [...] Read more.
Discarded NdFeB permanent magnets will become a significant source of rare earth elements (REEs) in the future. Electric vehicle (EV) motors utilize 2–5 kg of NdFeB magnets, and researchers are prioritizing the development of suitable extraction technologies. The objective of our research is to separate metal materials (Al, Cu, Fe and FEEs) from EV motors, based on their melting temperatures. REE magnets that pose the greatest challenge are melted together with the electrical steel of the motor, and the potential for extracting REEs in a selective manner from the molten steel was examined based on their significant oxidation potential using FeO–SiO2 compounds, which act as an oxidizing slag-forming agent, to test the extraction method. Fayalite (2FeO·SiO2) is the most easily created and ideal eutectic compound for carrying oxygen (FeO) and forming slag (SiO44−), typically generated during copper smelting. In this experiment, copper slag was used and the results were compared to a smelting test, which had previously used a synthesized fayalite flux as a model. The smelting test, utilizing synthesized fayalite flux, yielded a 91% Nd recovery rate. The Nd recovery rate in the smelting test with copper slag hit a high of 64.81%, influenced by the smelting’s holding time. The steel contained 0.08% Nd. Iron was recovered from the copper slag at a rate of 73%. During the smelting test, it was observed that the reaction between Nd2O3 and the Al2O3 crucible resulted in the formation of a layer on the surface of the crucible, diffusion into the crucible itself, and a subsequent reduction in the efficiency of Nd recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Supermaterials: Engineered Multifunctional Composites for Dual Water-Waste Solutions)
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20 pages, 7263 KB  
Article
Optimization of Milling Process Parameters for Waste Plum Stones for Their Sustainable Application
by Nataša Gajić, Dragana Radovanović, Jovana Đokić, Ivana Jelić, Sanja Jevtić, Katarina Sokić and Marija Štulović
Processes 2025, 13(9), 2759; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13092759 - 28 Aug 2025
Viewed by 830
Abstract
The impact of milling process parameters on the physicochemical properties of waste plum stones was investigated to enable their further utilization as a functional material. The experiments were conducted using a planetary ball mill, with variations in milling duration (1–3 h), the ball-to-powder [...] Read more.
The impact of milling process parameters on the physicochemical properties of waste plum stones was investigated to enable their further utilization as a functional material. The experiments were conducted using a planetary ball mill, with variations in milling duration (1–3 h), the ball-to-powder ratio (bpr) (10:1 and 20:1), and the rotation speed (250 and 500 rpm). Transformations of material in a function of process parameters were assessed by XRD, FTIR, and SEM analysis, revealing differences in particle size distribution, functional group composition, and surface morphology. Optimization of milling process parameters was focused on promoting fine particle formation and surface activation without causing significant material degradation. The best result was achieved with the PS-M10 sample, processed at a speed of 500 rpm and a bpr of 20:1 during a short milling time of 1 h. The milled sample demonstrated promising potential for further applications, particularly for heavy metal ion (Pb2+ and Cu2+) removal from aqueous solutions through adsorption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Supermaterials: Engineered Multifunctional Composites for Dual Water-Waste Solutions)
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Review

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15 pages, 1363 KB  
Review
Engineering Multifunctional Biochars for Integrated Environmental Systems: Multi-Medium Performance, Challenges, and Research Priorities
by Jelena Beljin, Marijana Kragulj Isakovski and Snežana Maletić
Processes 2026, 14(4), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14040714 - 21 Feb 2026
Viewed by 292
Abstract
The valorization of agricultural and other waste residues into biochar represents a promising strategy for sustainable waste management and environmental remediation within a circular economy framework. Engineering multifunctional biochars like agricultural waste-derived biochars (AWDBs) exhibit tunable physicochemical properties governed by feedstock characteristics and [...] Read more.
The valorization of agricultural and other waste residues into biochar represents a promising strategy for sustainable waste management and environmental remediation within a circular economy framework. Engineering multifunctional biochars like agricultural waste-derived biochars (AWDBs) exhibit tunable physicochemical properties governed by feedstock characteristics and thermochemical conversion conditions, enabling their application across water, soil, and sediment systems. While extensive research has demonstrated the effectiveness of biochar in isolated environmental compartments, natural systems function as interconnected water–soil–sediment continua, where pollutants, nutrients, and organic matter dynamically interact. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in the production, properties, and environmental applications of biochars, with a particular focus on their multifunctional performance in coupled environmental systems. Mechanistic insights into contaminant sequestration, nutrient cycling, and microbial interactions across media are discussed, alongside evidence of synergistic and antagonistic effects arising from cross-media processes. Despite significant progress, major knowledge gaps persist, including limited integrated multi-medium studies, lack of standardized assessment methodologies, insufficient understanding of long-term biochar stability, and challenges associated with field-scale implementation. Future research directions are proposed to address these limitations through standardized protocols, engineered multifunctional biochars, long-term monitoring, and policy integration. Advancing a system-based perspective is essential to unlock the full potential of agricultural waste-derived biochars for sustainable and scalable environmental remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Supermaterials: Engineered Multifunctional Composites for Dual Water-Waste Solutions)
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