Advances in Organic Solid Waste and Wastewater Management, 2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainable management of organic solid waste and wastewater has become one of the most pressing challenges worldwide, driven by rapid urbanization, population growth, industrialization, and increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Organic waste streams and wastewater are major contributors to environmental degradation when improperly managed, leading to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, ecosystem deterioration, and public health risks. At the same time, these waste streams represent an important and largely underutilized source of valuable resources, including energy, nutrients, organic matter, and functional materials. Addressing this dual challenge requires integrated, multidisciplinary, and innovative approaches that move beyond conventional treatment strategies toward sustainable resource recovery and valorization. 

This Topic focuses on recent advances in the management, treatment, and valorization of organic solid wastes and wastewater, with special emphasis on technologies and strategies that support sustainability, circular economy principles, and climate change mitigation. Organic solid wastes such as food waste, agricultural residues, biosolids, and agro-industrial by-products are increasingly being recognized as valuable feedstocks for waste-to-energy and waste-to-value pathways. Similarly, wastewater is no longer viewed solely as a waste stream to be treated and discharged but rather as a resource that can be harnessed for the recovery of water, energy, nutrients, and other high-value products. 

A central theme of this Topic is the development and optimization of biological, physicochemical, and hybrid treatment technologies aimed at enhancing resource recovery while minimizing environmental impacts. Particular attention is paid to anaerobic digestion and related biological processes, which play a key role in organic matter stabilization, biogas production, and nutrient transformation. Advances in reactor design, operational strategies, microbial community analysis, and process integration are of special interest, as they directly influence process efficiency, stability, and scalability. In parallel, emerging biological processes for nutrient removal and recovery, including innovative nitrogen and phosphorus management routes, are highly relevant for achieving more energy-efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment systems. 

Another important focus of this Topic is the application of advanced materials and emerging technologies to improve the performance of waste and wastewater treatment processes. This includes the development and use of advanced adsorbents, catalysts, biochar-based materials, and nanomaterials for contaminant removal, resource recovery, and process intensification. Advanced oxidation processes and hybrid treatment systems that combine biological and physicochemical approaches are also within the scope of this Topic, particularly for addressing emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other persistent organic contaminants.

This Topic also emphasizes the importance of integrating waste and wastewater management strategies within broader sustainability and circular economy frameworks. This includes life cycle assessment, technoeconomic analysis, and environmental impact evaluation of treatment and valorization pathways. Contributions that address climate change mitigation through greenhouse gas reduction, carbon capture, and carbon valorization are especially encouraged. In this context, biochar production, biomass valorization, and the synthesis of functional carbon-based materials from waste streams represent promising avenues for closing material and energy loops. 

Overall, this Topic aims to provide a focused platform for disseminating recent scientific and technological developments in organic solid waste and wastewater management. Contributions are expected to address both fundamental and applied aspects, including process design, performance evaluation, and real-world implementation challenges. By bringing together studies from different disciplines and application contexts, this Topic seeks to support informed decision-making and advance practical solutions that contribute to more sustainable and resource-efficient waste and wastewater management systems. 

The following is a link to the first edition of this Topic:

https://www.mdpi.com/topics/JR057GW3V4

Prof. Dr. Alejandro Alvarado-Lassman
Prof. Dr. Carlos Velasco-Santos
Prof. Dr. Juan Manuel Méndez-Contreras
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Energies energies	3.9	8.3	2008	16.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Environments environments	4.3	5.7	2014	18.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Fermentation fermentation	4.1	7.7	2015	16.8 Days	CHF 2100	Submit
Materials materials	3.7	7.0	2008	14.4 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Molecules molecules	5.1	10.3	1996	15.6 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Processes processes	3.4	5.7	2013	14.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Waste waste	-	-	2023	16.6 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Water water	3.5	6.7	2009	17.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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All Molecules Energies Water Waste Processes Environments Fermentation Materials

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32 pages, 8735 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Biotransformation of Agro-Livestock Residues by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus: Advancing Circular Bioeconomy in Veracruz, Mexico

by Karla Ramírez-Frías, Solmaría Mandi Pérez-Guzmán, José Manuel Hernández-Martínez, Roger Emmanuel Sales-Pérez, Alejandro Alvarado-Lassman and Juan Manuel Méndez-Contreras

Fermentation 2026, 12(8), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation12080353 - 28 Jul 2026

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Abstract

Agro-industrial residues from livestock and sugarcane production—particularly abundant in regions such as Veracruz, Mexico, where both agro-industries co-occur in high density—constitute underutilized carbon and nitrogen streams with high potential for biotransformation within circular bioeconomy frameworks. This study aimed to evaluate whether inoculation with [...] Read more.

Agro-industrial residues from livestock and sugarcane production—particularly abundant in regions such as Veracruz, Mexico, where both agro-industries co-occur in high density—constitute underutilized carbon and nitrogen streams with high potential for biotransformation within circular bioeconomy frameworks. This study aimed to evaluate whether inoculation with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus SP96 at increasing levels (5, 10, and 15% v/v) achieves simultaneous stabilization, carbohydrate-to-lactic-acid conversion, and nutritional enrichment of a thermally pretreated bovine manure (BM)–agro-sugarcane waste (ASCW) mixture, and to describe the underlying growth kinetics using the Gompertz model. Thermal pretreatment reduced Salmonella spp. and fecal coliforms to levels compliant with NOM-004-SEMARNAT-2002 Class B biosolid standards, yielding a substrate with suitable fermentability (14.56 gL⁻¹ carbohydrates, 0.44% total nitrogen, pH 6.52, and 90.43% volatile solids). Fermentation at 37 °C and 120 rpm for 72 h followed Gompertz kinetics (R² = 0.92–0.97). The 15% inoculum achieved the highest conversion efficiency and product yield (lactic acid and carbohydrate consumption), whereas the 10% inoculum represented the most balanced operating condition (best kinetic fit, R² = 0.97). However, differences in lactic acid concentration among treatments were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The resulting biomass showed high organic matter (93.45%), increased crude protein (8.5%), a C/N ratio of 39.9, and enrichment in P₂O₅, MgO, Na₂O, and B. These findings validate a low-cost, scalable platform for simultaneous waste stabilization and generation of value-added, protein-enriched biomass with potential application as a feed supplement and soil amendment, pending further safety and functional characterization, from agro-livestock residues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Organic Solid Waste and Wastewater Management, 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 1887 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Development and Field Evaluation of a Microbially-Inoculated Feather–Straw–Lignite Compost Material for the Reclamation of Post-Mining Soils

by Anna Choińska-Pulit, Justyna Sobolczyk-Bednarek, Dominika Kufka and Amelia Zielińska

Materials 2026, 19(14), 3035; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19143035 - 14 Jul 2026

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Abstract

This study addresses degraded post-mining soil reclamation by developing a novel, microbially-inoculated waste-derived feather–straw–lignite organic-mineral compost material. Formulated from chicken feathers (20%), wheat straw (60%), and lignite (20%) to optimize the initial C:N ratio, the substrate was inoculated with a multi-strain complex (MIX) [...] Read more.

This study addresses degraded post-mining soil reclamation by developing a novel, microbially-inoculated waste-derived feather–straw–lignite organic-mineral compost material. Formulated from chicken feathers (20%), wheat straw (60%), and lignite (20%) to optimize the initial C:N ratio, the substrate was inoculated with a multi-strain complex (MIX) of Bacillus altitudinis 33, Bacillus methylotrophicus Alk, and Streptomyces fulvissimus K59. Testing progressed from laboratory scale to a 200 dm³ dynamic reactor and a 2025 field evaluation with maize (Zea mays L.) on sandy mining soils in Konin (Poland). Inoculation accelerated maturation, yielding a favorable C:N ratio of 12.09 and stabilized NH4-N of 0.03%. Peak dehydrogenase activity reached 16 DU by day 3. Field application enhanced sandy soil properties, increasing urease activity to 3.91 UU and providing 3.4 g/kg P₂O₅. Consequently, maize showed a highly significant 15% increase in average shoot height (30.23 cm vs. 25.88 cm in control; t(645) = 6.63, p < 0.001) and intense green coloration. However, absolute soil enzymatic activity remained low due to early spring moisture limitations and temperature constraints typical of temperate climates. These initial findings suggest that the microbially-enriched compost shows strong potential as a safe functional soil-reclamation material and compliant alternative to synthetic fertilizers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Organic Solid Waste and Wastewater Management, 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 474 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Kinetic Analysis of Biogas Production from Brosimum alicastrum Seed Coat Pretreatment Using a Logistic Model

by Gilver Rosero-Chasoy, Elda España-Gamboa, Jesús Alejandro Vazquez-Barea, José Martin Baas-López, Tanit Toledano-Thompson, Liliana Alzate-Gaviria and Raúl Tapia-Tussell

Fermentation 2026, 12(6), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation12060280 - 10 Jun 2026

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Abstract

Methane production from Brosimum alicastrum seed coat was evaluated using a logistic model through three alkaline concentrations (0.19 M, 0.26 M, and 0.28 M) and three enzymatic activity levels (3000 U mL⁻¹, 5000 U mL⁻¹, and 7000 U mL [...] Read more.

Methane production from Brosimum alicastrum seed coat was evaluated using a logistic model through three alkaline concentrations (0.19 M, 0.26 M, and 0.28 M) and three enzymatic activity levels (3000 U mL⁻¹, 5000 U mL⁻¹, and 7000 U mL⁻¹) as pretreatments. Laccase was produced through submerged fermentation using T. hirsuta Bm-2 fungi, while NaOH served as the alkaline agent. Enzymatic pretreatment resulted in the highest specific CH₄ yield (427.43 ± 2.28 mL CH₄/g VS_added), surpassing both alkaline pretreatment (235.61 ± 9.19 mL CH₄/g VS_added) and the control (102.54 ± 5.55 mL CH₄/g VS_added). Kinetic analysis of CH₄ production indicated that cumulative CH₄ production reached its stationary phase within 30 days of digestion. Moreover, enzymatic pretreatment exhibited the highest CH₄ formation rate (0.15–0.16 h⁻¹), except for the control, which had a slightly higher rate (0.22 h⁻¹). The kinetic analysis revealed that the enzymatic pretreatment significantly improved the hydrolysis stage of Ramon’s seed coat, promoting higher cumulative CH₄ production and leading to an increased specific CH₄ yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Organic Solid Waste and Wastewater Management, 2nd Edition)

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