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Application of Biotechnology in Waste Treatment and Valorization for Energy Recovery

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Resources and Sustainable Utilization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2024) | Viewed by 11313

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ioanna Ntaikou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Foundation for Research and Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (FORTH/ ICE-HT), Patra, Greece
Interests: fermentation; biofuels and biomolecules production via microbial processes (biohydrogen, bioethanol, polyhydroxyalkanoates, antioxidants), biological and thermochemical fractionation of lignocellulose; recovery of nutrients from wastes; risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yi Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Interests: environmental engineering; wastewater treatment; resource reclamation; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Hashem

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
2. Assiut Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
Interests: microbiology; microbial biotechnology; bioenergy; waste treatment; fermentation; bioethanol; single cell protein; enzymology; biotreatments; fungal and yeast taxonomy; biofertilizers; biocontrol of plant diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For many decades, economic development had been based on a linear model of mindless production and overconsumption of goods, which has eventually resulted in the depletion of natural resources and energy reserves, and the accumulation of huge amounts of hardly manageable wastes. Consequently, the degradation of the natural environment and insufficient energy supply is looming in the near future. Deeper understanding, however, on the consequences of such a producer–consumer culture has lately created a global trend for the adoption of new practices and measures, aiming at facilitating the transition from a linear to a circular economy, in which wastes can be reintegrated into the cycle of the production chain, serving as an alternative and valuable resource.

The application of biotechnological approaches for the management of solid wastes and wastewaters may contribute greatly to that circular sustainability movement, since it may integrate treatment, i.e., the removal of pollutants, with the production of energy, the recovery of nutrients and clean water, and also the generation of high added value bio-products.

In this context, this Special Issue aspires to gather novel research and review papers covering the topic of simoultaneous treatment and valorization of different types of wastes (solid, liquid and gaseous) via biotechnological approaches. These may include the use of organisms, whole cells, enzymes and molecular analogues, governed by the principles of sustainability, whereas the main focus is on the simultaneous removal of pollutants and generation of energy and energy carriers.

Dr. Ioanna Ntaikou
Dr. Yi Zhang
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Hashem
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • waste management
  • wastewaters
  • resource recovery
  • biohydrogen
  • biogas
  • bioethanol
  • biolelectricity
  • biodiesel
  • biogas upgrade
  • methanation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1356 KiB  
Article
Determination of Particle Size for Optimum Biogas Production from Ouagadougou Municipal Organic Solid Waste
by Mahamadi Nikiema, Narcis Barsan, Amidou S. Ouili, Emilian Mosnegutu, K. Marius Somda, Ynoussa Maiga, Compaoré Cheik Omar Tidiane, Cheik A. T. Ouattara, Valentin Nedeff and Aboubakar S. Ouattara
Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9792; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229792 - 10 Nov 2024
Viewed by 618
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion’s contribution to sustainable development is well established. It is a sustainable production process that enables energy to be saved and produced and efficient pollution control processes to be implemented, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of our societies. Optimizing biogas yields [...] Read more.
Anaerobic digestion’s contribution to sustainable development is well established. It is a sustainable production process that enables energy to be saved and produced and efficient pollution control processes to be implemented, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of our societies. Optimizing biogas yields from the anaerobic digestion of municipal organic waste is crucial for maximum energy recovery and has become an important topic of interest. Substrate particle size is a key process parameter in biogas production and precedes other pretreatment methods for most organic materials. This study aims to evaluate the impact of particle size and incubation period on biomethane production from municipal solid waste. Sampling of municipal solid waste was carried out in waste pre-collection in the city of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Waste characterization showed lignocellulolytic green waste (grass, dead leaves), waste composed of fruit and leafy vegetables and leftover food waste. TableCurve 3D v4.0 software was used to develop an optimal mathematical model to correlate particle size and biomethane productivity to describe optimal production parameters. Particle sizes ranging from 2000 to 63 µm high biogas production values, specifically 385.33 and 201.25 L·kg−1 of MSV. PCA analysis clearly showed a high correlation between particle size and biogas production, with optimum production recorded for size 250 µm with a biomethane production value of 187.53 L·kg−1 of MSV. The average relative errors and RMSE for CH4 content were improved by 24.31% and 44.97%, respectively. The data calculated with the developed mathematical model and the existing experimental data were compared and permutated to validate the model. This work enabled the identification of a mathematical model that describes the correlations between the input parameters of an experiment and the monitored parameters, as well as the definition of the particle size that allows for the optimal production of biomethane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biotechnology in Waste Treatment and Valorization for Energy Recovery)
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20 pages, 8577 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Anaerobic Digestion of Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Waste Using a Leach-Bed Reactor Coupled to an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Bed Reactor
by Achilleas Kalogiannis, Vasileios Diamantis, Alexandros Eftaxias and Katerina Stamatelatou
Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010050 - 20 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1293
Abstract
Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) generated locally in open (public or wholesale) markets is a valuable resource and should not be considered as waste. The anaerobic digestion (AD) of FVW can minimize landfill disposal and generate renewable energy, thus decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. [...] Read more.
Fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) generated locally in open (public or wholesale) markets is a valuable resource and should not be considered as waste. The anaerobic digestion (AD) of FVW can minimize landfill disposal and generate renewable energy, thus decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the digestate after the AD of FVW, devoid of antibiotics and animal fats in manure and food waste, may have a high fertilizing value. In this study, FVW mixtures were composed to mimic the real FVW generated in Mediterranean open markets annually. The first goal was to evaluate the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of different size fractions resulting from FVW grinding. Indeed, the FVW was ground and separated into two size fractions, 0–4 mm and 4–10 mm, respectively. The 0–4 mm fraction exhibited a lower BMP but a higher rate constant than the 4–10 mm fraction. The second goal was to first evaluate the BMP of the lumped fraction of FVW after grinding (0–10 mm) via BMP assays and then feed it to a mesophilic two-stage leaching-bed reactor (LBR)-upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) system for almost one year. The BMP of the FVW ranged between 406 and 429 L kg−1 of volatile solids (VS) independently of the FVW production season. The system received an average organic loading rate (OLR) of 3.1 ± 0.7 g VS L−1 d−1. During operation, the LBR gradually transited from acidogenic to methanogenic, and the overall methane yield of the system increased from 265–278 to 360–375 L kg−1 VS, respectively. The proposed technology does not require water addition or liquid digestate removal. Compared to the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) digester technology, the LBR/UASB system is suitable for the anaerobic digestion of FVW. The results of this study can be further used to upscale the proposed technology and contribute to the societal need for affordable and clean energy included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biotechnology in Waste Treatment and Valorization for Energy Recovery)
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14 pages, 5074 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Onsite Treatment of Domestic Wastewater Using an Integrated Settler-Based Biofilm Reactor with Efficient Biogas Generation
by Surya Pratap Singh, Meena Kumari Sharma, Shatrudhan Pandey, S. M. Mozammil Hasnain, Fahad M. Alqahtani and Faisal M. Alessa
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12220; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612220 - 10 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1860
Abstract
The growing population and increasing urbanization have led to a surge in domestic wastewater generation, posing significant challenges for effective and sustainable treatment. The present study demonstrates a novel and sustainable approach for the onsite treatment of domestic wastewater using an integrated settler-based [...] Read more.
The growing population and increasing urbanization have led to a surge in domestic wastewater generation, posing significant challenges for effective and sustainable treatment. The present study demonstrates a novel and sustainable approach for the onsite treatment of domestic wastewater using an integrated settler-based biofilm reactor (ISBR) with efficient biogas generation. The ISBR provides an optimized environment for the growth of biofilm, facilitating the removal of organic pollutants and pathogens. Moreover, the ISBR enables the recovery of a valuable resource in the form of biogas, thus enhancing the overall utility of the treatment process. The performance of the ISBR was comprehensively evaluated at laboratory scale through treating the actual domestic wastewater generated from the hostel of Manipal University Jaipur. The ISBR system was operated under an ambient environment at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24 h. The results demonstrated remarkable efficiency in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and coliforms removal, with average removal efficiency being more than 90%. According to the COD mass balance analysis, 48.2% of the influent COD was recovered as bioenergy. The chromatogram revealed a high percentage of methane gas in the collected biogas sample. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis of the accumulated sludge in the ISBR system depicted the morphology of methanogenic bacteria. Both the experimental and theoretical results confirmed the feasibility and sustainability of the ISBR system at the onsite level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biotechnology in Waste Treatment and Valorization for Energy Recovery)
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19 pages, 1499 KiB  
Article
Development of Hybrid Systems by Integrating an Adsorption Process with Natural Zeolite and/or Palygorskite into the Electrocoagulation Treatment of Sanitary Landfill Leachate
by Christiana Genethliou, Irene-Eva Triantaphyllidou, Dimitrios Chatzitheodorou, Athanasia G. Tekerlekopoulou and Dimitris V. Vayenas
Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8344; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108344 - 21 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1547
Abstract
The effectiveness of a hybrid approach comprising electrocoagulation (EC) and adsorption (AD) (using natural zeolite and/or palygorskite) processes to treat raw sanitary landfill leachate (SLL) was investigated in terms of color, dissolved chemical oxygen demand (d-COD), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) and [...] Read more.
The effectiveness of a hybrid approach comprising electrocoagulation (EC) and adsorption (AD) (using natural zeolite and/or palygorskite) processes to treat raw sanitary landfill leachate (SLL) was investigated in terms of color, dissolved chemical oxygen demand (d-COD), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) removal. Optimal EC conditions were found with a current density of 30 mA cm−2, Fe electrode material and pH 8. Implementation of the AD process using zeolite (ADzeo) as pre- or post-treatment for EC significantly increased the NH4+-N removal efficiency. The ADzeo-EC sequential treatment showed considerably higher color removal compared to the EC-ADzeo sequential treatment and was therefore determined to be the optimal sequential treatment. Integration of the AD process using palygorskite (ADpal) into the first or middle stage of the ADzeo-EC treatment system enhanced the overall NO3−-N removal efficiency. The hybrid ADzeo-ADpal-EC treatment system exhibited the highest simultaneous removal efficiencies of color, d-COD, NO3−-N and NH4+-N, corresponding to 95.06 ± 0.19%, 48.89 ± 0.89%, 68.38 ± 0.93% and 78.25 ± 0.61%, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the ADzeo-ADpal-EC hybrid system is a promising and efficient approach for treating raw landfill leachate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biotechnology in Waste Treatment and Valorization for Energy Recovery)
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20 pages, 6295 KiB  
Article
Phenol Biodegradation and Bioelectricity Generation by a Native Bacterial Consortium Isolated from Petroleum Refinery Wastewater
by Sara Shebl, Nourhan N. Hussien, Mohab H. Elsabrouty, Sarah M. Osman, Bassma H. Elwakil, Doaa A. Ghareeb, Safaa M. Ali, Nevine Bahaa El Din Ghanem, Yehia M. Youssef, Essam El Din A. Moussad and Zakia A. Olama
Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12912; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912912 - 10 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2013
Abstract
Phenolic compounds are highly toxic, along with being one of the most persistent substances in petroleum refinery effluents. The most potent solution is through phenol bioremediation to produce demi-water and bioenergy, which are two effective outcomes for a single process. Fifteen genetically identified [...] Read more.
Phenolic compounds are highly toxic, along with being one of the most persistent substances in petroleum refinery effluents. The most potent solution is through phenol bioremediation to produce demi-water and bioenergy, which are two effective outcomes for a single process. Fifteen genetically identified native bacterial strains were isolated from the effluents of the petrochemical industry plant (AMOC, Egypt) and were investigated for potential phenol biodegradation activity and energy bioproduction individually and as a consortium in a batch culture. Successful and safe phenol biodegradation was achieved (99.63%) using a native bacterial consortium after statistical optimization (multifactorial central composite design) with bioelectricity generation that reached 3.13 × 10−6 mW/cm3. In conclusion, the native consortium was highly potent in the bioremediation process of petroleum refinery wastewater, protecting the environment from potential phenol pollution with the ability to generate an electrical current through the bioremediation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biotechnology in Waste Treatment and Valorization for Energy Recovery)
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22 pages, 2379 KiB  
Article
Household Food Waste to Biogas in Västerås, Sweden: A Comprehensive Case Study of Waste Valorization
by Tingting Liu, Qian Zhang, Xiaowen Kang, Jiaqi Hou, Tao Luo and Yi Zhang
Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 11925; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911925 - 21 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2917
Abstract
Sustainable large-scale household food waste (HFW) reutilization is difficult worldwide. This study presents a systematic and in-depth analysis of the case of Västerås, Sweden, where biogas has been produced from HFW for years and utilized as renewable vehicle fuel. Various aspects are covered, [...] Read more.
Sustainable large-scale household food waste (HFW) reutilization is difficult worldwide. This study presents a systematic and in-depth analysis of the case of Västerås, Sweden, where biogas has been produced from HFW for years and utilized as renewable vehicle fuel. Various aspects are covered, including the logistic flow, energy recovery, environmental benefits, cost-benefit analysis, and social survey. In 2017, 8879 tons of food waste were collected from Västerås city, which could generate 590,000 Nm3 biomethane and support 21 biogas-powered buses. A reduction of 1052.9–1541.2 tons of CO2-eq was estimated by replacing fossil fuels in vehicles and centralized composting units for HFW. The actual operating profit of this process amounted to 6.604 million Swedish Krona (SEK), and the maximized environmental economic benefit was estimated to be 3.15–3.73 million SEK/year. The active participation of the residents to source-separate their HFW was crucial to the success of the project, and the driving factors were tentatively identified as value orientation and facility convenience. With information pooled from various sectors, this study constructs a comprehensive reference case for industrial, academic, and municipal entities that are interested in similar practices in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biotechnology in Waste Treatment and Valorization for Energy Recovery)
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