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Sustainable Materials, Waste Management, and Recycling

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Waste and Recycling".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 7530

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kiadtisak Saenboonruang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Interests: recycled materials; radiation processing; radiation shielding; industrial waste
Dr. Worawat Poltabtim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Interests: radiation detection and protection; radiation shielding materials; environmental radiation; sustainable materials; health sciences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable materials, waste management, and recycling are crucial for building a greener future. Research in these areas helps reduce environmental concerns, conserve natural resources, and promote a circular economy. By developing biodegradable, recyclable, and renewable materials, we can minimize pollution and combat climate change. Waste reduction and efficient recycling also offer socio-economic benefits, such as job creation, cost savings, and improved environmental policies. Furthermore, a multidisciplinary approach—combining science, engineering, policy-making, and industry collaboration—ensures practical and scalable solutions for global sustainability challenges.

This Special Issue on “Sustainable Materials, Waste Management, and Recycling” invites researchers to share innovative solutions that contribute to sustainability. We welcome studies on novel sustainable materials, advanced recycling technologies, efficient waste management strategies, circular economy models, and environmental impact assessments. Research on policy frameworks and industrial applications is also encouraged. By bringing together diverse expertise, this Special Issue aims to foster new ideas and practical advancements in sustainable development.

Dr. Kiadtisak Saenboonruang
Dr. Worawat Poltabtim
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. Sustainability 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

  • recycled materials
  • industrial waste
  • agricultural waste
  • waste management
  • recycling technology
  • sustainable materials
  • renewable materials
  • green technology

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 2852 KB  
Article
Valorizing Rice Husk Waste as a Biosorbent with Gamma-Induced Surface Modification for Enhanced Heavy-Metal Adsorption
by Kulthida Saemood, Siriphon Samutsan, Kasinee Hemvichian, Pattra Lertsarawut, Saowaluck Thong-In, Harinate Mungpayaban, Shinji Tokonami, Ryoma Tokonami, Tatsuhiro Takahashi and Kiadtisak Saenboonruang
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010549 - 5 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 791
Abstract
This work investigated the effects of gamma irradiation on the adsorption capacities of rice husk (RH) for the removal of Cu2+, Cr3+, and Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions, with potential applications in wastewater remediation. RH samples were gamma-irradiated [...] Read more.
This work investigated the effects of gamma irradiation on the adsorption capacities of rice husk (RH) for the removal of Cu2+, Cr3+, and Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions, with potential applications in wastewater remediation. RH samples were gamma-irradiated at doses up to 40 kGy and characterized using SEM-EDS, XRF, FTIR, XRD, and BET analyses. While morphological and textural changes remained subtle, FTIR and SEM-EDS confirmed the formation and intensification of oxygen-containing functional groups, including –OH, –COOH, and C=O, as well as increased exposure of silica (Si–O) on the surfaces, which substantially enhanced surface reactivity of RH toward metal ions. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that 40-kGy irradiated RH samples (RH-40) exhibited the highest removal efficiencies compared to non-irradiated and lower-dose samples (RH-0, RH-10, RH-20, and RH-30), specifically with improvements of 415% for Cu2+, 502% for Cr3+, and 663% for Zn2+ compared to RH-0, determined at the initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Kinetic studies also showed rapid adsorption within the first 10–15 min, dominated initially by boundary-layer diffusion, followed by chemisorption-driven equilibrium behavior. The pseudo-second-order (PSO) model provided an excellent fit for all metals (R2 = 0.999), indicating maximum model-predicted kinetic capacities of 555.56 mg/g (Cu2+), 769.23 mg/g (Cr3+), and 434.78 mg/g (Zn2+). Langmuir isotherms also fitted well (R2 = 0.941–0.995), with predicted monolayer capacities of 535.33 mg/g (Cu2+), 491.64 mg/g (Cr3+), and 318.88 mg/g (Zn2+). Freundlich modeling further indicated favorable heterogeneous adsorption, with KF values of 42.614 (Zn2+), 20.443 (Cr3+), and 16.524 (Cu2+) and heterogeneity factors (n) greater than 1 for all metals. These overall results suggested that gamma irradiation substantially enhanced RH functionality that enabled fast and high-capacity heavy-metal adsorption through surface oxidation and carbon valorization. Gamma-irradiated RH, therefore, represented a promising, low-cost, and environmentally friendly biosorbent for wastewater treatment applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials, Waste Management, and Recycling)
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25 pages, 15657 KB  
Article
Zinc Kiln Slag Recycling Based on Hydrochloric Acid Oxidative Leaching and Subsequent Metal Recovery
by Pavel Grudinsky, Ekaterina Vasileva and Valery Dyubanov
Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10171; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210171 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1206
Abstract
The limited availability of high-quality ore deposits and the environmental hazards of metallurgical wastes highlight the importance of developing resource-efficient metal recovery technologies. Zinc kiln slag (ZKS), also known as Waelz slag, a by-product material enriched in non-ferrous metals, was processed through oxidative [...] Read more.
The limited availability of high-quality ore deposits and the environmental hazards of metallurgical wastes highlight the importance of developing resource-efficient metal recovery technologies. Zinc kiln slag (ZKS), also known as Waelz slag, a by-product material enriched in non-ferrous metals, was processed through oxidative HCl leaching with H2O2 as an oxidant. Thermodynamic simulation and laboratory experiments were applied to determine optimal leaching conditions to dissolve copper, zinc, and iron. Optimal leaching efficiency was achieved with consumptions of 0.8 g HCl and 0.1 g H2O2 per gram of ZKS, a liquid-to-solid (L/S) ratio of 5 mL/g, a temperature of 70 °C, and a duration of 180 min, which resulted in recoveries of 96.3% Cu, 93.6% Fe, and 76.8% Zn. The solid residue with 43.5 wt.% C is promising for reuse as a reductant material in pyrometallurgical processes. Copper and arsenic were separated from the leachate via cementation with iron powder, achieving recovery rates of 98.9% and 91.2%, respectively. A subsequent two-step iron precipitation produced ferric hydroxide with 52.2 wt.% Fe and low levels of impurities. As a result, the developed novel hydrochloric acid oxidative leaching and metal precipitation route for ZKS recycling provides an efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional treatment methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials, Waste Management, and Recycling)
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18 pages, 4832 KB  
Article
Variable-Sized Green Mussel Shell Waste: Potential Use in Artificial Sand Production
by Pimthong Thongnopkun, Worachai Roubroumlert and Chutiparn Lertvachirapaiboon
Sustainability 2025, 17(16), 7214; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17167214 - 9 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3298
Abstract
This article presents an innovative approach as a potential alternative for the reuse of discarded green mussel shells from the fishing and food sectors. This technique entails the use of harmless chemicals and the consumption of energy in an efficient manner to generate [...] Read more.
This article presents an innovative approach as a potential alternative for the reuse of discarded green mussel shells from the fishing and food sectors. This technique entails the use of harmless chemicals and the consumption of energy in an efficient manner to generate shell powder of different dimensions. The shell powder was categorized into three distinct sizes to investigate changes after heat treatment. SEM-EDS was used to analyze particle sizes before calcination and examine the microstructure of heated shell powder. FTIR spectroscopy was conducted to assess the purity of all sizes before and after calcination, showing excellent cleanliness suitable for practical applications. XRD spectroscopy was used to examine the crystal structure, while thermal characteristics and surface color changes during heat treatment were also analyzed due to their impact on final product quality. The variety in particle size enhances the potential for diverse industrial applications. Each size may be suitable for different artificial sand uses, as noted in the conclusion. The proposed method provides both environmental and economic advantages by converting shell waste into a sustainable substitute for artificial sand. It utilizes low-cost, readily available materials and aligns with circular economy principles by reducing shell waste accumulation and dependence on natural aggregates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials, Waste Management, and Recycling)
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18 pages, 6124 KB  
Article
Extraction of Alumina and Alumina-Based Cermets from Iron-Lean Red Muds Using Carbothermic Reduction of Silica and Iron Oxides
by Rita Khanna, Dmitry Zinoveev, Yuri Konyukhov, Kejiang Li, Nikita Maslennikov, Igor Burmistrov, Jumat Kargin, Maksim Kravchenko and Partha Sarathy Mukherjee
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6802; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156802 - 26 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
A novel strategy has been developed for extracting value-added resources from iron-lean, high-alumina- and -silica-containing red muds (RMs). With little or no recycling, such RMs are generally destined for waste dumps. Detailed results are presented on the carbothermic reduction of 100% RM (29.3 [...] Read more.
A novel strategy has been developed for extracting value-added resources from iron-lean, high-alumina- and -silica-containing red muds (RMs). With little or no recycling, such RMs are generally destined for waste dumps. Detailed results are presented on the carbothermic reduction of 100% RM (29.3 wt.% Fe2O3, 22.2 wt.% Al2O3, 20.0 wt.% SiO2, 1.2 wt.% CaO, 12.2 wt.% Na2O) and its 2:1 blends with Fe2O3 and red mill scale (MS). Synthetic graphite was used as the reductant. Carbothermic reduction of RM and blends was carried out in a Tamman resistance furnace at 1650 °C for 20 min in an Ar atmosphere. Reduction residues were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), elemental mapping and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Small amounts of Fe3Si alloys, alumina, SiC and other oxide-based residuals were detected in the carbothermic residue of 100% RM. A number of large metallic droplets of Fe–Si alloys were observed for RM/Fe2O3 blends; no aluminium was detected in these metallic droplets. A clear segregation of alumina was observed as a separate phase. For the RM/red MS blends, a number of metallic Fe–Si droplets were seen embedded in an alumina matrix in the form of a cermet. This study has shown the regeneration of alumina and the formation of alumina-based cermets, Fe–Si alloys and SiC during carbothermic reduction of RM and its blends. This innovative recycling strategy could be used for extracting value-added resources from iron-lean RMs, thereby enhancing process productivity, cost-effectiveness of alumina regeneration, waste utilization and sustainable developments in the field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials, Waste Management, and Recycling)
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