Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment in the Context of Circular Economy

Modern societies face increasing challenges related to water scarcity, water pollution, and increased waste streams. Traditional linear approaches to water and wastewater management are no longer sufficient in the face of growing environmental pressures and impacts. Embracing circular economy principles provides an opportunity to transform wastewater into valuable resources, promoting resources efficiency, and foster sustainable development. Advanced water and wastewater treatment technologies include innovative sorbents, recycling, valorization of by-products, integrated water and wastewater system management and sustainability assessments are central to this transformation. Recent research highlights the critical need for holistic solutions that couple physical-chemical and biological treatments with resource recovery, ultimately closing the loop in water and waste cycles.

The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together cutting-edge research and case studies that advance the science and engineering of water and wastewater treatment within a circular economy framework. Articles should highlight innovative processes, resource recovery strategies, sustainability assessments, and practical implementations that contribute to water reuse, pollution mitigation, and material circularity. Sustainability assessments by means of life cycle assessment, carbon and water footprint assessment, or integrated impact and risk assessment are also an important part of this Research Topic. This collection seeks to inform future systems, policies, and technological adoption, with global and local perspectives.

All submissions should explicitly address circularity and sustainability aspects within the proposed treatment strategies. We welcome submissions on, but not limited to, the following topics:

1. Novel processes and technologies for urban/industrial water or wastewater treatment such as membranes, advanced oxidation, biological, adsorption, etc.
2. Innovative and advanced materials applied in water or wastewater treatment processes
3. Assessment of water and wastewater treatment plants and processes in the context of a circular economy and sustainability considerations;
4. Sustainability assessments, e.g., life cycle assessments, carbon and water footprint assessments, or integrated impact and risk assessments;
5. Conception of technological processes applied to wastewater treatment recycling and re-use, and nutrients recovery; and
6. Integration of advanced processes within the conventional technological flow of water and wastewater treatment.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: advanced, wastewater treatment, water treatment, circular economy, materials, processes, urban water management, nutrient recovery, wastewater recycling, re-use, emerging pollutants, sustainability assessment, resource recovery, life cycle assessment, decentralized systems, valorization

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.