Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications

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

Participating Journals

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

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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All Materials Sustainability Buildings Recycling Clean Technol.

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16 pages, 3536 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Innovation and Sustainable Tailing Management: Technological and Mineralogical Characterization of Rock Powder from the São Paulo Aggregate Industry for Potential Reuse

by Ana Olivia Barufi Franco-Magalhães, Fabiano Cabañas Navarro, Rogério Pinto Ribeiro and Jacqueline Zanin Lima

Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3932; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083932 - 15 Apr 2026

Viewed by 363

Abstract

Brazilian soils are prone to a gradual decline in fertility due to intensive agricultural activity combined with natural weathering, which increases the demand for chemical fertilizers. Among potential alternatives, soil remineralization using crushed rock is a promising strategy. Silicate agrominerals (SAs) applied as [...] Read more.

Brazilian soils are prone to a gradual decline in fertility due to intensive agricultural activity combined with natural weathering, which increases the demand for chemical fertilizers. Among potential alternatives, soil remineralization using crushed rock is a promising strategy. Silicate agrominerals (SAs) applied as soil remineralizers have attracted attention due to their ability to supply plant-available nutrients while reducing dependence on conventional mineral fertilizers. This study evaluated the potential of residues from six quarries in Brazil as soil remineralizers as a regulatory screening assessment. Samples were subjected to mineralogical, petrological, and chemical characterization using an integrated approach, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), and leaching experiments. XRD analysis revealed that anorthite and augite were the major minerals present in the mining waste. These minerals are less resistant to weathering, which enhances the release of macro- and micronutrients, essential for the development of various crops. Chemically, the samples were dominated by SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, and Al₂O₃, with the sum of bases (K₂O + CaO + MgO) ranging from 11.92% to 16.85%, meeting Brazilian standards for use as a soil remineralizer. Leaching results revealed that pH responses varied significantly among the studied samples for the filler particles, with an alkaline shift reaching values above 9.0 after 72 h. In contrast, the powder particle size samples showed no significant variation between the different materials tested, maintaining nearly constant pH levels throughout the period. This preliminary evaluation demonstrates that mining tailings from Brazilian quarries have potential as a sustainable soil remineralizer. This approach not only offers an alternative for soil fertilization but also promotes waste management and circular economy practices, although further studies are needed to assess long-term effectiveness and safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications)

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23 pages, 12039 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Phosphoanhydrite Binders Based on Phosphogypsum from Various Industrial Sources

by Nataliya Alfimova, Kseniya Levickaya, Ivan Nikulin, Mikhail Lebedev and Natalia Kozhukhova

Recycling 2026, 11(3), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling11030046 - 2 Mar 2026

Viewed by 397

Abstract

Phosphogypsum is one of the most widely produced gypsum-containing wastes. Therefore, researchers worldwide are exploring ways to recycle them. It is most often considered as an alternative to natural gypsum in the production of calcium sulfate hemihydrate. There are also isolated studies aimed [...] Read more.

Phosphogypsum is one of the most widely produced gypsum-containing wastes. Therefore, researchers worldwide are exploring ways to recycle them. It is most often considered as an alternative to natural gypsum in the production of calcium sulfate hemihydrate. There are also isolated studies aimed at producing insoluble anhydrite (CaSO₄ II) from phosphogypsum. Compared to hemihydrate, anhydrite is characterized by greater strength and water resistance, and compared to Portland cement, it demonstrates lower energy consumption and CO₂ emissions during production. This study examined the possibility of phosphoanhydrite binder (CaSO₄ II) synthesis by calcination at 600, 800, and 1000 °C of phosphogypsum from four different industrial plants. Phosphoanhydrite binders capable of self-hardening, without the use of special additives, were synthesized. Their maximum strength at 28 days reached 57 MPa, and 69 MPa at 90 days. New data have been obtained regarding the influence of initial phosphogypsum characteristics and calcination temperature on the properties of CaSO₄ II and the hardened phosphoanhydrite paste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications)

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18 pages, 2226 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Valorizing the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) as Composite Panels for Construction or Furniture

by Cecilia Solís, Armin Kriele, Borja Oliver-Tomas, Martin Hitzl, Juan Carlos Guerrero Ramos, José Luis Millá Tamarit, Alicia Marco Aleixandre, Rosa Maria Pérez Campos, Arturo Valero and Michael Renz

Recycling 2026, 11(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling11020032 - 2 Feb 2026

Viewed by 705

Abstract

Residual lignocellulosic biomass represents a major resource to be incorporated into the circular economy, with up to 1400 Mt/y in EU27. Due to its complex composition of three biopolymers (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) combined with its seasonal and regional variability and high water [...] Read more.

Residual lignocellulosic biomass represents a major resource to be incorporated into the circular economy, with up to 1400 Mt/y in EU27. Due to its complex composition of three biopolymers (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) combined with its seasonal and regional variability and high water content, its valorization involves manifold challenging aspects. Herein a three-step procedure is presented to transform this type of biomass into solid composite panels: hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), dry thermal treatment and curing a phenolic resin. HTC triggers chemical dehydration of the polysaccharide part of the lignocellulose and breaks up the cell structure of the plants. This facilitates the diffusion of the water and its separation by filtration, which is more energy efficient than evaporation. HTC and thermal treatment induce chemical changes that concentrate the carbon content and make the material suitable for crosslinking with a phenolic resin, achieving a 90% renewable content. The composite panels are competitive with products of the particle and fiberboard sector with respect to tensile strength and screw withdrawal resistance. Hence, the products can be employed for construction or in the furniture industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications)

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54 pages, 1952 KB  

Open AccessReview

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

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1180

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

(This article belongs to the Topic Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications)

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14 pages, 4391 KB  

Open AccessArticle

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

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1217

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

(This article belongs to the Topic Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications)

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24 pages, 704 KB  

Open AccessArticle

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 1204

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

(This article belongs to the Topic Circular Materials Engineering: Waste Valorization and Sustainable Applications)

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