Topic Editors

Dr. El Messaoudi Noureddine
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia
Prof. Dr. Maria Harja
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, D. Mangeron, 73, 700050 Iasi, Romania

Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications

Abstract submission deadline
28 February 2026
Manuscript submission deadline
30 April 2026
Viewed by
2060

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The various materials utilized in applications such as energy production and storage, environmental protection, construction and building, electronic and optoelectronic have all been the subject of extensive scientific research in recent years. These materials have attracted a great deal of interest from researchers in many different disciplines because of their unique qualities. The physical, chemical, optical, and surface properties of these make them useful in the abovementioned fields.

Waste byproducts, are extensively studied for resource conservation and their implicit minimization of environmental impacts.

It is well known that creating novel materials for different applications is a significant issue today. In actuality, the study of new materials from waste or derivates must examine the remediation of water, air, and soil or the obtainment of  materials with added value.

The main objective of this topic is to bring further attention to materials synthesized from wastes and their application in new and green technologies.

Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications is a topic devoted to advanced applications of materials obtained by waste capitalization.

For this topic, applications such as energy storage, wastewater treatment, photocatalysis, air purification, soil treatment, adsorbents, glass and ceramic applications, concrete and mortars, and insulation materials, among others, are taken into consideration.

We kindly invite you to submit your work on this topic in the form of a research article, communication, or review.

Dr. El Messaoudi Noureddine
Prof. Dr. Maria Harja
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • circular economy
  • construction and demolition wastes
  • ash/slag reuse
  • green mortar and concrete
  • composite
  • agri-food wastes
  • wastewater treatment

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Materials
materials
3.2 6.4 2008 15.5 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Sustainability
sustainability
3.3 7.7 2009 17.9 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Buildings
buildings
3.1 4.4 2011 15.1 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Recycling
recycling
4.6 8.9 2016 18.9 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Clean Technologies
cleantechnol
4.7 8.3 2019 20 Days CHF 1800 Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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54 pages, 1952 KB  
Review
Removal of Kerosene from Wastewater: Current Trends and Emerging Perspectives for Environmental Remediation
by Noureddine El Messaoudi, Youssef Miyah, Jordana Georgin, Dison S. P. Franco, Andrew Nosakhare Amenaghawon, Bambang Sardi, Ashraf M. Al-Msiedeen and Maria Harja
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010277 - 26 Dec 2025
Viewed by 407
Abstract
Kerosene spills from industrial processes, oil spills, and improper waste disposal can pose significant risks to human health and the environment due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. This review will provide an integrated overview of kerosene removal from wastewater, drawing on the [...] Read more.
Kerosene spills from industrial processes, oil spills, and improper waste disposal can pose significant risks to human health and the environment due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. This review will provide an integrated overview of kerosene removal from wastewater, drawing on the most recent developments, material design recommendations, scalability concepts, and possible future directions. Conventional treatment processes such as adsorption, membrane separation, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), and biodegradation are assessed critically in light of performance, scalability, and environmental applicability. The review focuses on the synthesis of novel materials such as nanocomposites, porous materials, functionalized polymers, and bio-inspired materials based on designs of high selectivity, reusability, and improved degradation/separation efficiencies. In addition, some emerging trends are highlighted with the review, including the use of cost–effective and sustainable materials, and the circular economy. Given the substantial knowledge- and problem-gap issues, the goal of this research is to provide pathways for researchers to develop efficient, sustainable, and scalable kerosene–contaminated wastewater treatment technologies to assist with water resourcing and conservation. Full article
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14 pages, 4391 KB  
Article
A Green-Synthesized Fluorescent Carbon Dot Probe Derived from Banana Peel for Cellular Imaging and Sensing of Tetracycline
by Sihua Zeng, Chunrong Qin, Yuzhu Zhang, Haoyu Chen and Hua Lin
Materials 2025, 18(22), 5211; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18225211 - 17 Nov 2025
Viewed by 653
Abstract
The valorization of biomass waste represents an important direction in green chemistry. This study successfully prepared blue fluorescent carbon dots (BP-CDs) from waste banana peels via a one-step hydrothermal method, establishing a dual-functional platform for both pollutant detection and cellular imaging. The resulting [...] Read more.
The valorization of biomass waste represents an important direction in green chemistry. This study successfully prepared blue fluorescent carbon dots (BP-CDs) from waste banana peels via a one-step hydrothermal method, establishing a dual-functional platform for both pollutant detection and cellular imaging. The resulting material exhibited uniform particle size (~2.05 nm), good water dispersibility, and strong fluorescence emission at 445 nm under 360 nm excitation. It maintained over 93% of its initial fluorescence intensity after 20 days, demonstrating excellent stability. Based on the inner filter effect, the probe enabled a highly selective detection of tetracycline with a detection limit of 0.191 µM and two wide linear ranges (0–15 µM, R2 = 0.996; 15–95 µM, R2 = 0.991). Cellular experiments confirmed the good biocompatibility of BP-CDs (cell viability > 84%) and their successful application in cell imaging. More importantly, the probe achieved visual observation and semi-quantitative analysis of the distribution and content of tetracycline in living cells, providing a direct tool for studying the cellular behavior of antibiotics. This work not only offers a new strategy for banana peel valorization but also develops a green fluorescence imaging platform suitable for tracking intracellular pollutants. Full article
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24 pages, 704 KB  
Article
Is It Worth It? Potential for Reducing the Environmental Impact of Bitumen Roofing Membrane Production
by Michael T. Schmid and Charlotte Thiel
Recycling 2025, 10(6), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10060208 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 590
Abstract
Between 51% and 72% of a bituminous roofing membrane used for structural waterproofing consists of organic material, predominantly bitumen—a derivative of crude oil refining—highlighting the strong dependence of this product on fossil resources. Considering that several tonnes of these membranes must be replaced [...] Read more.
Between 51% and 72% of a bituminous roofing membrane used for structural waterproofing consists of organic material, predominantly bitumen—a derivative of crude oil refining—highlighting the strong dependence of this product on fossil resources. Considering that several tonnes of these membranes must be replaced every 30 to 50 years, substantial potential exists for emission reduction through the establishment of circular material systems. This study investigates this potential by analysing 26 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and life cycle datasets from across Europe covering the period from 2007 to 2023. To ensure comparability, all data were normalised to a declared unit of 1 kg of roofing membrane. The reinforcement layers were categorised into glass and polyester & glass composites, and their differences were examined using Welch’s t-tests. Correlative analyses and linear as well as multiple regression models were then applied to explore relationships between environmental indicators and the shares of organic and mineral mass fractions. The findings reveal that renewable energy sources, although currently representing only a small share of total production energy, provide a major lever for reducing nearly all environmental impact categories. The type of reinforcement layer was also found to influence the demand for fossil resources, both materially and energetically. For most environmental indicators, only multiple regression models can explain at least 30% of the variance based on the proportions of organic and mineral inputs. Overall, the study underscores the crucial importance of high-quality, transparently documented product data for accurately assessing the sustainability of building products. It further demonstrates that substituting fossil energy carriers with renewable sources and optimising material efficiency can substantially reduce environmental burdens, provided that methodological consistency and clarity of indicator definitions are maintained. Full article
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