Advanced Separation Technology for Nutrient Removal and Recovery

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, nutrient pollution from wastewater and solid wastes has had a significant impact on environmental quality and public health, highlighting the need for innovative separation technologies. Efficient nutrient removal and recovery not only mitigate environmental risks but also contribute to the sustainable utilization of resources by transforming pollutants into valuable resources. At present, advances in membrane technologies, precipitation (e.g., struvite crystallization), adsorption, ion exchange, electrochemical approaches, and hybrid systems have shown the potential to selectively recover nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from waste and wastewater streams. Additionally, the recovery of nutrients, especially phosphates, from secondary sources such as sludge combustion and pyrolysis products is emerging as a critical area of research.

This Special Issue aims to compile innovative research on the application of novel, efficient, and sustainable separation technologies in nutrient removal and resource recovery from diverse waste sources. We are particularly interested in articles that address the development, optimization, and application of advanced separation techniques at the laboratory, pilot, and full scale in order to enhance nutrient recycling, reduce energy consumption, and support circular economy principles. Relevant life cycle assessment (LCA) studies, including carbon, environmental, and nutrient footprint analyses, are also encouraged.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

• Membrane-based nutrient separation processes;
• Precipitation and crystallization technologies (e.g., struvite recovery);
• Adsorption and ion-exchange technologies for nutrient recovery;
• Electrochemical nutrient recovery methods;
• Nutrient recovery from secondary sources (e.g., sludge ash from combustion or pyrolysis);
• Hybrid and integrated separation systems;
• Advanced biological separation methods;
• Nutrient-selective materials development;
• Life cycle assessment and footprint analyses (carbon, environmental, nutrient);
• Pilot and full-scale applications demonstrating practical feasibility.

Dr. Lei Li
Dr. Hui Xu
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. Separations 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 2600 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.

• nutrient recovery
• wastewater treatment
• membrane separation
• struvite crystallization
• adsorption
• ion exchange
• electrochemical methods
• solid waste
• life cycle assessment
• circular economy