Special Issue "Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery"

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021).

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chunjiang An
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Interests: solid waste composting and digestion; waste utilization and resource recovery; advanced physiochemical and biological treatment; contaminant transport in multiphase; environmental risk assessment and management; synchrotron-assisted environmental process analysis; surface water and groundwater quality; environmental sustainability
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Christophe Guy
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Interests: waste management; chemical engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of the economy and population growth, a large amount of solid waste has been generated from domestic, industrial, and agricultural activities over the last few decades. Improper treatment and disposal of solid waste have adverse impacts on the ecosystem and human health. Improving our fundamental understanding of various waste disposal processes will help alleviate environmental pollution and establish efficient waste management. In particular, there has been an increasing interest in the use of waste as a resource for energy and nutrient recovery, value-added product generation, and pollution mitigation. Such resource recovery is an effective way to reduce waste and improve sustainability in operation. In waste utilization, it is also necessary to make systematic considerations for a number of critical environmental and technical factors, as well as their interrelationships and the related policy implications. Although many efforts have been made, some challenges to waste utilization and resource recovery remain to be overcome. Dealing with these problems through sustainable approaches has become an urgent issue for both government and academia. This Special Issue is dedicated to the perception of waste utilization and resource recovery based on the integration of environmental, economic, and social considerations. It will provide a summary of recent progress in the development of operational strategies for sustainable waste utilization. The Special Issue calls for original research, and mini and full reviews, including perspectives in the field of the current standing of waste utilization and resource recovery.

Prof. Dr. Chunjiang An
Prof. Dr. Christophe Guy
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 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 management
  • Waste disposal
  • Waste utilization
  • Resource recovery
  • Waste minimization
  • Fate of contaminant from waste
  • Systems analysis
  • Waste characterization
  • Economic analysis
  • Sustainability

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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Editorial
A New Challenge for the Management and Disposal of Personal Protective Equipment Waste during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7034; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137034 - 23 Jun 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 402
Abstract
To prevent the transmission of the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in the public, the demand and consumption of personal protective equipment (PPE) increased drastically. Such wide use of PPE has brough a new challenge to waste management and disposal. It is difficult to sort PPE [...] Read more.
To prevent the transmission of the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in the public, the demand and consumption of personal protective equipment (PPE) increased drastically. Such wide use of PPE has brough a new challenge to waste management and disposal. It is difficult to sort PPE waste before further treatment, and such waste will often end up being processed by some traditional disposal methods. During the pandemic, incineration and landfill facilities are currently under significant pressure. In addition, a certain amount of PPE waste is discarded into the environment rather than going to landfills and incinerators. It not only directly affects the ecosystem, but also indirectly threatens human health through various routes of exposure. PPE waste is also the source and carrier of pathogens and chemical contaminants, causing a secondary pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to establish appropriate strategies to deal with the PPE problems related to energy, environment and health, requiring the collaborative efforts of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and governments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Research

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Article
Mechanical Properties and Micro Mechanism of Nano-Clay-Modified Soil Cement Reinforced by Recycled Sand
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7758; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147758 - 12 Jul 2021
Viewed by 349
Abstract
To observe the effect of recycled sand and nano-clay on the improvement of the early strength of soil-cement (7d), 0%, 10%, 15% and 20% recycled sand were added. While maintaining a fixed moisture content of 30%, the ratios of each material are specified [...] Read more.
To observe the effect of recycled sand and nano-clay on the improvement of the early strength of soil-cement (7d), 0%, 10%, 15% and 20% recycled sand were added. While maintaining a fixed moisture content of 30%, the ratios of each material are specified in terms of soil mass percentage. The shear strength of CSR (recycled sand blended soil-cement) was investigated by direct shear test and four groups of specimens (CSR-1, CSR-2, CSR-3 and CSR-4) were obtained. In addition, 8% nano-clay was added to four CSR groups to obtain the four groups of CSRN-1, CSRN-2, CSRN-3 and CSRN-4 (soil-cement mixed with recycled sand and nano-clay), which were also subjected to direct shear tests. A detailed analysis of the modification mechanism of soil-cement by recycled sand and nano-clay was carried out in combination with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and IPP (ImagePro-Plus) software. The test results showed that: (1) CSR-3 has the highest shear strength due to the “concrete-like” effect of the incorporation of recycled sand. With the addition of 8% nano-clay, the overall shear strength of the cement was improved, with CSRN-2 having the best shear strength, thanks to the filling effect of the nano-clay and its high volcanic ash content. (2) When recycled sand and nano-clay were added to soil-cement, the improvement in shear strength was manifested in a more reasonable macroscopic internal structure distribution of soil-cement. (3) SEM test results showed that the shear strength was negatively correlated with the void ratio of its microstructure. The smaller the void ratio, the greater the shear strength. This shows that the use of reclaimed sand can improve the sustainable development of the environment, and at the same time, the new material of nano-clay has potential application value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Article
Sustainable Glass Recycling Culture-Based on Semi-Automatic Glass Bottle Cutter Prototype
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6405; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116405 - 04 Jun 2021
Viewed by 597
Abstract
Humanity has developed recycling activities over time due to their benefits, the shortage of raw materials, or the footprint with regard to the environment. The absence of a recycling culture in Mexico has not allowed its development and growth despite the benefits. In [...] Read more.
Humanity has developed recycling activities over time due to their benefits, the shortage of raw materials, or the footprint with regard to the environment. The absence of a recycling culture in Mexico has not allowed its development and growth despite the benefits. In 2012, Mexico only recycled less than 10% of urban solid waste. Most recycling activities are focused on plastic, paper, and cardboard products due to their prices in local markets. This article presents a semi-automated prototype focused on recycling glass bottles using the thermal shock phenomenon. It aims to develop a sustainable glass recycling culture by creating a new branch for the integral glass recycling process and a proposal base on Integrated Sustainable Waste Management (ISWM) and the Quintuple Helix Model. It helps to reduce waste and resource recovery from recycling and upcycling glass bottles. The products obtained from upcycling fulfill new uses and acquire new value, while glass leftovers continue the integral recycling process for glass. Additionally, this paper demonstrates the relation between the ISWM and the Quintuple Helix Model and the opportunity to implement the twelfth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Article
On the Effect of Recycled Polyolefins on the Thermorheological Performance of Polymer-Modified Bitumen Used for Roofing-Applications
Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3284; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063284 - 16 Mar 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 504
Abstract
In order to meet the technical specifications in roofing applications, the bitumen used for this purpose is standardly modified by polymers. This, in general, allows the re-use of recycled polymer during the production of polymer-modified bitumen (PmB), simultaneously reducing the amount of polymeric [...] Read more.
In order to meet the technical specifications in roofing applications, the bitumen used for this purpose is standardly modified by polymers. This, in general, allows the re-use of recycled polymer during the production of polymer-modified bitumen (PmB), simultaneously reducing the amount of polymeric waste. Recycling processes, however, may degrade or contaminate polymers, leading to reduced crystallinity and lower melting temperature. Six different recycled polyolefins (high crystallinity: iPP, HDPE; reduced crystallinity: APP, PP Copolymer; waxy polyolefins: Wax 105, Wax 115) were assessed on their suitability for roofing applications. Mixing characteristics, polymer distribution and thermo-mechanical properties of the PmB samples were determined, employing fluorescence microscopy, modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC) and dynamic shear rheometry (DSR). Depending on mixing properties, two levels of polymer content (5 and 16 wt% or 16 and 30 wt%) were considered. High crystallinity polymers exhibited the biggest increase in |G*| and lowest phase angle. Reduced crystallinity polymers were more easily dispersed and showed improved |G*| and phase angle. Waxy polyolefins improved bitumen similarly to reduced crystallinity polymers and are easily dispersed. The results suggest, that a reduced crystallinity or lower melting temperature of the recycled polymers resulting from degradation or contamination may be beneficial, resulting in improved mixing behavior and a more homogeneous distribution of the polymer within the bitumen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Article
Parameter Optimization and Effect Analysis of Low-Pressure Abrasive Water Jet (LPAWJ) for Paint Removal of Remanufacturing Cleaning
Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2900; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052900 - 08 Mar 2021
Viewed by 445
Abstract
As an environmentally friendly method, water jet (WJ) technology plays a significant role in the field of remanufacturing cleaning. The cleaning capacity of a WJ is severely restricted by the water pressure, while the impact force will be too large and may damage [...] Read more.
As an environmentally friendly method, water jet (WJ) technology plays a significant role in the field of remanufacturing cleaning. The cleaning capacity of a WJ is severely restricted by the water pressure, while the impact force will be too large and may damage the cleaned substrate as well as cause energy waste if the pressure is too high. However, by adding abrasives, the cleaning capacity of a low-pressure water jet (LPWJ) will be considerably improved. Although abrasive water jet (AWJ) technology has been used in mechanical machining for decades, very limited research work can be found in the literature for remanufacturing cleaning. In this paper, the role of abrasives in low-pressure abrasive water jet (LPAWJ) cleaning was described. Cleaning performance with different parameters (abrasive feed rate condition, water pressure and standoff distance) in paint removal was experimentally investigated by using the Taguchi design of experiment. The experimental results indicated that the water pressure was the most dominant factor and the optimal parameter combination was the second feed rate condition, 9 MPa water pressure and 300 mm standoff distance. The influence law between the cleaning performance and various factors was explored, which can provide remanufacturers with directions in selection of the optimal parameters in the LPAWJ cleaning process. By designing contrast experiments, the results showed that the cleaning capacity of an LPAWJ is better than that of a pure LPWJ and the residual effect in terms of changes in surface roughness, residual stress and morphology is a little larger. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Article
Characterization of Carbonaceous Deposits on an End-of-Life Engines for Effective Cleaning for Remanufacturing
Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020950 - 19 Jan 2021
Viewed by 436
Abstract
Remanufacturing is one of the most effective strategies to achieve sustainable manufacturing and restore the performance of end-of-life products. However, the lack of an effective cleaning method to clean carbonaceous deposits severely hampers the remanufacturing of end-of-life engines. To explore an appropriate cleaning [...] Read more.
Remanufacturing is one of the most effective strategies to achieve sustainable manufacturing and restore the performance of end-of-life products. However, the lack of an effective cleaning method to clean carbonaceous deposits severely hampers the remanufacturing of end-of-life engines. To explore an appropriate cleaning method, it is necessary to first study the characterization of the carbonaceous deposits. A broad range of analyses including X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance study, X-ray diffraction analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were performed to conduct an in-depth characterization of the carbonaceous deposits. The results showed that a hybrid structure composed of organics and inorganics is the most distinguishing feature of the carbonaceous deposit in end-of-life engines. The inorganics form the skeleton on which organics get attached, thereby resulting in a strong adhesion of the deposit and increasing the difficulty of cleaning. Therefore, a method in which several cleaning forces can be simultaneously applied is more suitable for the present purpose. Molten salt cleaning was chosen to verify the feasibility of this proposal. This method was shown to have the potential to effectively clean the carbonaceous deposit. This finding could contribute towards promoting the effective remanufacturing of end-of-life engines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Article
Waste Management in Australia Is an Environmental Crisis: What Needs to Change so Adaptive Governance Can Help?
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9212; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219212 - 05 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 757
Abstract
Research suggests that strengthening cooperation between governments is required to support improved policy outcomes. Despite established cooperative agreements between the levels of government in Australia, a lack of urgency and consistency continues to drive unsustainable approaches toward waste management practices. Adaptive governance has [...] Read more.
Research suggests that strengthening cooperation between governments is required to support improved policy outcomes. Despite established cooperative agreements between the levels of government in Australia, a lack of urgency and consistency continues to drive unsustainable approaches toward waste management practices. Adaptive governance has emerged as a potential approach for addressing complexity, with multiple actors collaborating in the design and implementation of challenging environmental issues. The main findings of this research highlight key challenges in multilevel systems and reforms required to establish institutional arrangements that support key adaptive governance enablers in the context of cooperative approaches to waste management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Article
Research Trends in the Economic Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management Systems: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1980 to 2019
Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8509; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208509 - 15 Oct 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 664
Abstract
This article analyzes state-of the art studies that focus on the economic aspects (EA) of municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems, including an analysis of articles that have developed methodologies for economic analysis (MEA), as well as those which study the economic analysis [...] Read more.
This article analyzes state-of the art studies that focus on the economic aspects (EA) of municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems, including an analysis of articles that have developed methodologies for economic analysis (MEA), as well as those which study the economic analysis of the externalities or external impacts related to these systems. The aim of this study was to determine the trends in research and critical points based on the literature available in the Web of Science database from 1980 to 2019. First, we present the statistics and general trends, then perform an in-depth bibliometric study using the VOSviewer software, which allows the results to be grouped according to references, authors, institutions, countries, and journals. The study showed that 563 articles about the economic aspects have been published, 229 about methodology development, and only 21 considered the methodologies for analyzing externalities generated by the MSW management systems. In general, there is great interest in the economic analysis of the systems and technologies that deal with transforming waste into energy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Article
Effect of Adding Drinking Water Treatment Sludge on Excess Activated Sludge Digestion Process
Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 6953; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12176953 - 26 Aug 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 751
Abstract
Drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) is a waste by-product from water treatment plants where aluminum and iron salts are the most commonly used coagulants. DWTS was reused to investigate the effects of DWTS on the digestion liquid quality and microorganism activity of excess [...] Read more.
Drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) is a waste by-product from water treatment plants where aluminum and iron salts are the most commonly used coagulants. DWTS was reused to investigate the effects of DWTS on the digestion liquid quality and microorganism activity of excess activated sludge (EAS). DWTS with four suspended solid (SS) concentrations (0%, 2%, 5% and 10%) was added to EAS which was sampled during aerobic and anaerobic digestion processes, then batch tests were carried out which followed the coagulation-flocculation process. It was found that DWTS can improve total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and dissolved phosphorus (DP) removal efficiencies for anaerobic EAS. The highest removal efficiency of TDN (29.97%) as well as DP (55.38%) was observed when DWTS dosage was SS = 10%. The release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by DWTS could increase dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and lead to the accumulation of non-biodegradable humic acid-like substance in aerobic and anaerobic digestion liquid. The dehydrogenase activity (DHA) values of anaerobic EAS were higher than aerobic EAS. DWTS could reduce DHA for both EAS. These results indicate that potential risk of release of DOM should be considered when reusing DWTS in future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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Review

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Review
Sustainable Utilization of Steel Slag from Traditional Industry and Agriculture to Catalysis
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9295; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219295 - 09 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 636
Abstract
Steel slag is a large amount of residual material produced in the process of steel manufacturing. With the requirements of sustainable development in China, the utilization of steel slag has become a hot issue. Through an in-depth study on steel slag, it is [...] Read more.
Steel slag is a large amount of residual material produced in the process of steel manufacturing. With the requirements of sustainable development in China, the utilization of steel slag has become a hot issue. Through an in-depth study on steel slag, it is apparent that it has been widely used in various fields in recent years. The resource utilization of steel slag is not only conducive to resource conservation, but also conducive to sustainable production and environmental protection. In this paper, the common ways of resource utilization of steel slag in construction, agriculture, industry, and catalysis are reviewed. Steel slag as a solid waste with great development potential and large output is expected to be widely developed into high value-added products such as catalytic material in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
Review
The Benefits of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for Southern Africa: A Review
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 9222; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219222 - 06 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1868
Abstract
Globally, water hyacinth is a known invasive species that predominantly threatens the pillars of sustainability. The cost of controlling these invasive plants is high and many Southern African countries are barely equipped for this liability as the process has to be performed over [...] Read more.
Globally, water hyacinth is a known invasive species that predominantly threatens the pillars of sustainability. The cost of controlling these invasive plants is high and many Southern African countries are barely equipped for this liability as the process has to be performed over time. Despite this challenge, there is valuable resource recovery from water hyacinth which can be used to make financial and environmental returns. The visible differences between the control and utilisation methods lie in the definition, recognition, and matching of costs and benefits. Using a rapid appraisal of existing literature, which was analysed using meta-analysis, the current paper is an attempt to discuss the beneficial use of water hyacinth. It is argued in the paper that the economic feasibility of control methods which, on one hand, are used to calculate the economic value of water hyacinth, mainly relies on assumptions whose reliability and sustainability are questionable, thus implying limitations on using this kind of control methods. On the other hand, the costs and benefits of utilising water hyacinth can be quantifiable, making them susceptible to changes associated with time value and sensitivity analysis of possible fluctuations in cashflows. In the context of these annotations, other scholars have argued for the consideration of other utilisation alternatives, among which is included biogas which has been identified as the most viable option because of its potential in diversifying the energy mix, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to improved water quality. Given these observations, this paper aims to contribute to policy and research discussions on the fiscal understandings of the material recovery from water hyacinth to promote the adoption of biogas technology. These views are discussed within the broader discourse of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Utilization and Resource Recovery)
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