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Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization of Biowastes into Sustainable Value-Added Products

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Resources and Sustainable Utilization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 10622

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Nour Shafik El-Gendy

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Guest Editor

1. Biotechnology Lab., Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), Nasr City, PO Box 11727, Cairo, Egypt
2. Center of Excellence, October University for Modern Sciences & Arts (MSA), 6th October City, PO Box 12566, Giza, Egypt
Interests: bioenergy; petroleum biotechnology; environmental sciences; nanobiotechnology; environmental assessment and management; research related to climate change; circular; green and blue economy and sustainable development

Prof. Dr. Said Salah Eldin Elnashaie

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Guest Editor

Chemical Engineering Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Interests: chemical and biochemical engineering; biochemical processing; circular economy and sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Hussein Nabil Nassar

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Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, there is wide interest in achieving the UN’s seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs): accomplish the nexus of water, food, and energy security; save life on land and below water; achieve clean and sustainable energy resources; overcome poverty; diminish the problem of climate change; and apply the concept of blue, green, and circular economy. This Special Issue aims to cover, as much it can, the different multidisciplinary sides of environmental engineering and sustainable development to provide a state-of-the-art presentation on how to reach a sustainable and clean environment via waste management and the valorization of different readily available resources into biofuels, biorefineries, and different value-added products. It will also focus on reviews and research papers concerned with achieving the blue, green, and circular economy with the concept of zero waste.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Biofuels (solid, liquid, and gas);
Waste valorization: physical, chemical, and biological routes;
Environmental engineering and sustainability;
Sustainable solutions to overcome the problem of climate change;
Sustainable solutions for the reclamation of polluted soil, water, and air;
Green economy and valorization of different agro-industrial wastes into value-added products;
Algae and blue economy for a sustainable future;
Applications of artificial intelligence to achieve a clean and sustainable environment;
Circular economy and its role in reaching a sustainable and clean environment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Nour Shafik El-Gendy
Prof. Dr. Said Salah Eldin Elnashaie
Dr. Hussein Nabil Nassar
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. 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

biowastes
waste management
nanobiotechnology
biowaste valorization
value-added products
biofuels
biorefineries
green biocides
green corrosion inhibitors
biosurfactants
biofertilizers
biomembranes
green fuels
green antivirals
green antibiotics
green antioxidants
green anticancer
green anti-inflamatory
fischertropsch reactors
bioreactors
biosensors
wastewater treatment and recycling
bioremediation
zero waste
circular economy
environmental engineering and sustainability
multi-disciplinary sustainable engineering
suatinable development pillars
system theory (ST) and integrated system approach
sustainable and clean environment

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrochars Derived from Spent Coffee Grounds as Zn Bio-Chelates for Agronomic Biofortification

by Leslie Lara-Ramos, Ana Cervera-Mata, Jesús Fernández-Bayo, Miguel Navarro-Alarcón, Gabriel Delgado and Alejandro Fernández-Arteaga

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10700; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310700 - 07 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 764

Abstract

Previous studies have attributed both phytotoxicity and the capacity to mobilize nutrient elements to the presence of polyphenols and melanoidins in spent coffee grounds (SCG) and SCG-hydrochars obtained through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). This work aimed to evaluate SCG and two SCG-hydrochars obtained at 160 and 200 °C that were functionalized with Zn salts (bio-chelates), to achieve the in vitro biofortification of lettuce. Two application modes were established: (1) a fixed Zn concentration of 10 mg kg⁻¹ of soil and (2) a fixed dose of 0.5% bio-product. Soil alone (control A) and commercial chelates (control B) were used as controls. Outcomes showed that SCG-hydrochars retain the capacity to mobilize Zn compared to SCG. However, the chelating capacity was reduced (Zn: 94%) and the toxicity was significantly increased (p < 0.05) with higher temperatures of HTC (200 °C). Both fresh and dry lettuce weights were less affected at doses of 0.5% of bio-product and registered a maximum increase of 136% of Zn in the plant content. The present study approaches the possibility of using these by-products as bioinorganic fertilizers at subtoxic doses, although more research is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization of Biowastes into Sustainable Value-Added Products)

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31 pages, 73153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Fully Integrated Biorefinery Process for the Valorization of Ulva fasciata into Different Green and Sustainable Value-Added Products

by Nour Sh. El-Gendy, Hussein N. Nassar, Abdallah R. Ismail, Hager R. Ali, Basma Ahmed Ali, Khaled M. Abdelsalam and Manal Mubarak

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7319; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097319 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2161

Abstract

In the framework of a sustainable marine bioeconomy, the present work describes an advanced, eco-friendly, fully integrated biorefinery process for marine Ulva fasciata macroalgae. That would serve as a solution for ecosystem bioremediation, an effective utilization of marine macroalgal resources, and a new initiative to promote a green and low-carbon economy. Ulva fasciata biomass can be utilized as an organic fertilizer with total N, P₂O₅, and K₂O contents of 3.17% and a C/N ratio of 11.71. It can also be used as a solid biofuel with a sufficient calorific value of 15.19 MJ/kg. It has high carbohydrate content and low lignin content of approximately 44.85% and 1.5%, respectively, which recommend its applicability in bioethanol and biobutanol production. Its protein, fiber, lipid, and ash contents of approximately 13.13%, 9.9%, 3.27%, and 21%, respectively with relatively high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and omega-9 fatty acids (n-9 MUFAs) and relatively low omega-6 fatty acids (n-6 PUFAs) and a n-6/n-3 ratio of 0.13 also recommend its applicability as food additives and animal feeders. Moreover, the suggested sequential zero-waste biomass residue process yielded 34.89% mineral-rich water extract (MRWE), 2.61% chlorophyll_a,b, 0.41% carotenoids, 12.55% starch, 3.27% lipids, 22.24% ulvan, 13.37% proteins, and 10.66% cellulose of Ulva fasciata dry weight. The efficient biocidal activity of extracted ulvan against pathogenic microorganisms and sulfate-reducing bacteria recommends its application for medical purposes, water densification, and mitigation of microbially induced corrosion in the oil and gas industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization of Biowastes into Sustainable Value-Added Products)

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21 pages, 1710 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Obtaining bioLPG via the HVO Route in Brazil: A Prospect Study Based on Life Cycle Assessment Approach

by Natália de Almeida Menezes, Isadora Luiza Clímaco Cunha, Moisés Teles dos Santos and Luiz Kulay

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15734; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315734 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2436

Abstract

BioLPG is a partially renewable fuel that can be produced by different conversion routes, with vegetable oil hydrotreatment (HVO) being one of the most promising processes. This study uses the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to assess the environmental impacts associated with this processing. The analysis considered the conditions practiced in Brazil with soybean oil (SO) as raw material, different hydrogen sources, and raw materials’ feed rates in the reaction system. The model was based on secondary data collected for the 2020–2021 biennium, and the environmental impacts were determined for Global Warming Potential, Primary Energy Demand, Terrestrial Acidification, Fine Particulate Matter Formation, Terrestrial Ecotoxicity, and direct Land Use Change. The results show that the SO produced by soybeans grown in Paraná/BR and hydrotreated with H₂ obtained by electrolysis ([SO/H₂]mol/mol = 1:30) had the best environmental performance in four of the six impact categories analyzed. A complementary analysis also identified the best environmental performances for bioLPG obtained from blending SO from different sources to avoid supplier dependence. Even accumulating worse environmental performance than fossil LPG, renewable fuel has promising prospects for deployment in Brazil. Nevertheless, for this to occur, some actions must be implemented in its production cycle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization of Biowastes into Sustainable Value-Added Products)

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14 pages, 1416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Valorization of Four Types of Fruit Peel Waste for Biogas Recovery and Use of Digestate for Radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Pusa Himani) Cultivation

by Arwa A. AL-Huqail, Vinod Kumar, Rohit Kumar, Ebrahem M. Eid, Mostafa A. Taher, Bashir Adelodun, Sami Abou Fayssal, Boro Mioč, Valentino Držaić, Madhumita Goala, Pankaj Kumar and Ivan Širić

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10224; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610224 - 17 Aug 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2295

Abstract

Food waste has become a challenging global issue due to its inefficient management, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Among food waste items, fruit peel waste (FPW) is generated in enormous quantities, especially from juice vendors, resulting in arduous tasks for waste management personnel and authorities. However, considering the nutrient and digestible content of organic wastes, in this study four types of FPW (pineapple: PA; sweet lemon: SL; kinnow: KN; and pomegranate: PG) were investigated for their potential use within biogas production, using conventional and electro-assisted anaerobic reactors (CAR and EAR). In addition, the FPW digestate obtained after the biogas production experiments was considered as a soil bio-fertilizer under radish (Raphanussativus L. cv. Pusa Himani) cultivation. In the results, all four types of FPW had digestible organic fractions, as revealed from physicochemical and proximate analysis. However, PA-based FPW yielded the maximum biogas (1422.76 ± 3.10 mL/62.21 ± 0.13% CH₄) using the EAR system, compared to all other FPW. Overall, the decreasing order of biogas yield obtained from FPW was observed as PA > PG > SL > KN. The kinetic analysis of the biogas production process showed that the modified Gompertz model best fitted in terms of coefficient of determination (R² > 0.99) to predict cumulative biogas production (y), lag phase (λ), and specific biogas production rate (µ_m). Moreover, fertilizer application of spent FPW digestate obtained after biogas production significantly improved the arable soil properties (p < 0.05). Further, KN-based FPW digestate mixing showed maximum improvement in radish plant height (36.50 ± 0.82 cm), plant spread (70.80 ± 3.79 cm²), number of leaves (16.12 ± 0.05), fresh weight of leaves (158.08 ± 2.85 g/plant), fruit yield (140.10 ± 2.13 g/plant), and fruit length (25.05 ± 0.15 cm). Thus, this study suggests an efficient method of FPW management through biogas and crop production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization of Biowastes into Sustainable Value-Added Products)

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Review

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11 pages, 599 KiB

Open AccessReview

Iron-Marine Algal Interactions and Impacts: Decreasing Global Warming by Increasing Algal Biomass

by Nermin A. El Semary

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10372; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610372 - 20 Aug 2022

Viewed by 2216

Abstract

Iron limitation in vast water bodies has been linked to decreased algal productivity, despite different iron-acquiring mechanisms, and the presence of ferritin in many algal species that act as an iron internal reservoir. Therefore, iron fertilization has been proposed to increase algal biomass and photosynthesis. This, in turn, will reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increase oxygen, thereby decreasing global warming, and achieving ecological balance. In addition, algal proliferation will hopefully lead to enhancement in biodiversity, Biological pump, fish productivity and, subsequently marine food industry. Many climate geoengineering experiments in the form of ocean iron fertilization have been conducted globally in order to achieve such a purpose. However, reservations remain as the outcomes are not as promising as were previously expected. As the temporal and spatial scales of iron fertilization experiments are limited, the effects on fish productivity remain speculative. On the other hand, side effects were also recorded. The main purpose of iron fertilization, for carbon dioxide sequestration and global warming mitigation, still remains to be fully realized and verified. Several improvements and future modifications are suggested, and legal issues are discussed in this review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Bioeconomy and Valorization of Biowastes into Sustainable Value-Added Products)

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