Environment Ecotoxicology and Bioremediation: From Biological Solutions to High-Value Products

Dear Colleagues,

At present, environmental ecotoxicology and bioremediation have played a central role in solving pollution problems (water eutrophication, plastic pollution, agricultural wastes, etc.) and restoring ecosystem health. Specifically, with the application of some microorganisms and insects that contain high-value components, environmental pollutants can be efficiently converted into bioproducts, such as high-quality proteins, natural antioxidants, biofuels, and even health-care products. For example, yellow mealworm-based plastic degradation, bacteria-based agricultural waste treatment, and microalgae-based wastewater remediation have become widely studied research topics. The circular economy model based on this concept, which brings not only environmental benefits but also economic benefits, is gaining widespread acceptance in the field of environmental restoration. 

Therefore, the Editors of this Topic encourage submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following topics and issues:

(1) Development of biorefinery approaches for simultaneous pollutant removal and resource recovery

• Selection of microorganisms, plants, or insects for environmental restoration.
• Optimization of the bioremediation parameters.
• Mechanisms of pollutant or waste removal by organisms.

(2) Exploration of high-value bioproducts for environmental bioremediation

• Analysis of the high-value components in microorganisms, plants, and insects after waste treatment.
• Development of technologies to convert organisms to value-added bioproducts.

(3) Assessing the sustainability, life cycle, and techno-economic feasibility of bioremediation-based bioproducts

• Quantification of environmental benefits and impacts across the full bioremediation-to-bioproduct chain (e.g., carbon footprint, energy balance, resource recycling efficiency, etc.).
• Life-cycle assessment (LCA) of the technological route for environmental bioremediation.
• Techno-economic evaluation and market feasibility analysis of high-value bioproducts derived from pollutants or wastes through biological treatment processes.

Dr. Qian Lu
Dr. Huankai Li
Topic Editors