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Agronomy
Special Issues
Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges
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Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Innovative Cropping Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 2184

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yoong Kit Leong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
Interests: circular economy; biofuel; algal biotechnology; waste valorization; life-cycle assessment; zero carbon emission technology; biorefinery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eunsung Kan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, 400 Bizzell St, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Interests: food–energy–water nexus; environmental and agricultural sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The biotransformation of agricultural waste presents promising opportunities for sustainable waste management and resource utilization. Through biotransformation processes facilitated by enzymes, microbial degradation, and fermentation, this waste can be converted into valuable products such as biofuels, biopolymers, and biochemicals. Bioprocessing techniques, including anaerobic digestion and biorefinery, play pivotal roles in extracting energy and nutrients from agricultural residues. However, challenges such as the optimization of bioprocessing conditions, identification of suitable biocatalysts, and economic viability persist. Additionally, the establishment of integrated biorefinery systems is essential for maximizing resource utilization and minimizing environmental impact. The successful biotransformation of agricultural waste not only reduces environmental pollution but also contributes to the development of a circular economy by converting waste into valuable resources. Collaborative efforts in research and development are needed to overcome these challenges and realize the full potential of biotransformation in transforming agricultural waste into sustainable solutions for energy production, environmental remediation, and the development of bio-based products. In this Special Issue, we aim to gather high-quality research outcomes on the advances in and applications of the biotransformation of agricultural waste. Specifically, the Special Issue will cover (but is not limited to) the following topics:

  • Innovative and novel agricultural waste biotransformation processes, technologies, and systems;     
  • Design and process modeling of agricultural waste biotransformation;
  • Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of biotransformation of agricultural waste.

Dr. Yoong Kit Leong
Dr. Eunsung Kan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 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

  • renewable resources
  • biotransformation
  • value-added products
  • anaerobic digestion
  • biorefinery
  • waste-to-energy
  • sustainable agriculture
  • waste reduction
  • circular economy
  • life cycle assessment

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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14 pages, 471 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Biochemical Methane Potential and Kinetics of Organic Waste Streams for Enhanced Biogas Production
by Rodolfo Llanos-Lizcano, Lacrimioara Senila and Oana Cristina Modoi
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2546; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112546 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 731
Abstract
Organic waste has the potential to produce methane gas as a substitute for petrol-based fuels, while reducing landfilling and possible environmental pollution. Generally, anaerobic digestion (AD) is used only in wastewater treatment plants as a tertiary stage of sewage sludge treatment, generating a [...] Read more.
Organic waste has the potential to produce methane gas as a substitute for petrol-based fuels, while reducing landfilling and possible environmental pollution. Generally, anaerobic digestion (AD) is used only in wastewater treatment plants as a tertiary stage of sewage sludge treatment, generating a fraction of the energy that such process plants require. In this study, four different wastes—food waste (FW), dairy industry waste (DIW), brewery waste (BW), and cardboard waste (CBW)—were tested for biogas production. The biochemical methane potential (BMP) of each sample was evaluated using an automatic methane potential system (AMPTS). Operating parameters such as pH, temperature, total solids, and volatile solids were measured. Experiments on the anaerobic digestion of the samples were monitored under mesophilic conditions (temperature 37 °C, retention time 30 days). Specific methane yields (SMYs), as well as the theoretical methane potential (BMPth), were used to calculate the biodegradability of the substrates, obtaining the highest biodegradability for BW at 95.1% and producing 462.3 ± 1.25 NmL CH4/g volatile solids (VS), followed by FW at an inoculum-to-substrate ratio (ISR) of 2 at 84% generating 391.3 NmLCH4/g VS. The BMP test of the dairy industry waste at an inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 1 was heavily inhibited by bacteria overloading of the easily degradable organic matter, obtaining a total methane production of 106.3 NmL CH4/g VS and a biodegradability index of 24.8%. The kinetic modeling study demonstrated that the best-fitting model was the modified Gompertz model, presenting the highest coefficient of determination (R2) values, the lowest root means square error (RMSE) values for five of the substrates, and the best specific biogas yield estimation with a percentage difference ranging from 0.3 to 3.6%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges)
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17 pages, 1399 KiB  
Article
Wood- and Manure-Derived Biochars Reduce Antibiotic Residues and Shift Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Microbial Communities in Manure Applied Forage–Soil Systems
by Gyucheol Choi, Jeff A. Brady, Olabiyi Obayomi, Emily Green, Caroly Leija, Kristin Sefcik, Daisy A. Gonzalez, Cosette B. Taggart, James P. Muir and Eunsung Kan
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2100; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092100 - 15 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1211
Abstract
The increasing use of antibiotics in livestock poses environmental risks, leading to contamination of agricultural soils and propagation of microbial antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). This study examined the impacts of wood- and manure-derived biochar (BC) on antibiotic residues, ARGs, and microbial communities in sandy [...] Read more.
The increasing use of antibiotics in livestock poses environmental risks, leading to contamination of agricultural soils and propagation of microbial antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). This study examined the impacts of wood- and manure-derived biochar (BC) on antibiotic residues, ARGs, and microbial communities in sandy loam and clay loam soils amended with manure in Cynodon dactylon pastures. We hypothesized that BC amendments would influence the degradation of antibiotics and the structure of microbial communities based on their physicochemical properties and soil types. Our results demonstrated that wood BC reduced the concentrations of tetracycline and sulfonamides, particularly in sandy loam soil, due to its larger surface area and hydrophobic properties. In contrast, manure BC provided additional nutrients and supported atmospheric nitrogen-fixing microbial groups, especially in clay loam soil, while exhibiting variable efficiency in reducing antibiotic residues due to its lower surface area and higher ash content. These findings underscore the differential impacts of each BC type, emphasizing the need for tailored BC applications based on soil type to effectively mitigate antibiotic contamination and promote sustainable agricultural practices. In conclusion, wood BC was more effective in enhancing soil health by reducing antibiotic residues and improving microbial diversity, particularly in sandy loam soils, while manure BC was beneficial for nutrient cycling in clay loam soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biotransformation of Agricultural Waste: Opportunities and Challenges)
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