Membrane-Based Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery

Large effluents containing toxic pollutants like dyes, heavy metals, surfactants, micro/nano plastics, personal care products, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals have caused contamination of water supplies worldwide. This contamination originates from agricultural, industrial, and municipal sources, all of which release these pollutants into water streams, posing a significant environmental challenge. In recent years, various technologies have been employed to address these wastewater treatment challenges, with membrane-based technologies standing out as more effective compared to conventional approaches. The advantages of membrane-based technologies include their low cost, simple procedures, and high efficiency.

Moreover, wastewater with high organic matter content holds potential as a source of valuable resources, such as biogas, nutrients, and clean water (e.g., biogas, nutrients, and clean water). For example, the biomethane and biohydrogen produced by anaerobic fermentation of organic waste, biomass, and wastewater can be used as alternative energy for industrial applications. The nutrients obtained from human urine can be alternative commercial fertilizers used for plant growth. Harnessing the potential of wastewater for resource recovery aligns with the concept of achieving a circular economy, offering sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness.

This Research Topic emphasizes membrane-based technologies for wastewater treatment and resource recovery. The types of articles in this collection include reviews and original research papers, covering a variety of membrane separation, membrane bioreactors, advanced biomimetic membrane material, membrane fouling control, machine learning in wastewater treatment, and microbial consortia and ecology. Submissions about resource and energy recovery during membrane-based wastewater treatment are highly preferred. Submissions about resource and energy recovery during membrane-based wastewater treatment are highly preferred. Moreover, recovered resources for further bioconversion and industrial application are also highly encouraged.

Potential themes for this Research Topic include, but are not limited to:
• Membrane-based wastewater treatment for biogas production
• Membrane-based technologies for nutrient recovery from wastewater
• Membrane-based technologies for wastewater treatment
• Membrane-based technologies for resource recovery from wastewater
• Membrane bioreactor and biofouling control
• Biomimetic membrane material fabrication and modification
• Microbial consortia and ecology for wastewater treatment and water engineering
• Machine learning assisted wastewater treatment.

Keywords: waste treatment, resource recovery, membrane-based technologies, bioreactor, biomimetic membrane material

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.