Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy最新文献

{"title":"Numerical study on the effects of medical waste addition and staged air supply on co-incineration of municipal solid waste","authors":"Haoyang Cao,&nbsp;Yuxuan Ying,&nbsp;Guobin Wang,&nbsp;Rendong Zheng,&nbsp;Yunhua Zhao,&nbsp;Mi Yan","doi":"10.1007/s42768-026-00284-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-026-00284-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Medical waste (MW) is characterized by rapid growth and considerable variability in generation volume, which poses substantial challenges for its treatment. Co-incineration with municipal solid waste (MSW) provides an effective emergency disposal strategy that maximizes the utilization of existing incineration capacity. In this study, numerical simulations were conducted to systematically investigate the combustion behavior of MW co-incinerated with MSW in a large-scale MSW incinerator and simultaneously took into account the influence of bed height on combustion characteristics. The effects of varying MW blending ratios on combustion characteristics were analyzed, and the air distribution parameters were further optimized. The results indicate that a 5% blending ratio of MW represents a suitable upper limit beyond which excessive temperature rise and pollutant emissions may occur. Under this condition, a primary air fraction of 69% and a flue gas recirculation (FGR) ratio between 15% and 16% yield optimal furnace performance, characterized by enhanced combustion uniformity and minimized NO_<i>x</i> emissions. These findings provide theoretical guidance and operational reference for the practical application of MW co-incineration in MSW grate furnaces.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"379 - 394"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic combination of agricultural waste corn straw and magnesium oxysulfide cement for lightweight building materials: a sustainable strategy for Jilin, China","authors":"Chunran Wu,&nbsp;Le Fang,&nbsp;Qiuyu Zhang,&nbsp;Shicong Kou,&nbsp;Jian Cao","doi":"10.1007/s42768-026-00283-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-026-00283-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Jilin Province, China, produces about 32 million tonnes of corn straw (CS) annually. Approximately 25% of this waste is openly burned, leading to both air pollution and fire hazards. This study incorporated CS as natural fibers into lightweight magnesium oxysulfide cement (MOS), which is suitable for the local cold–dry climate of Jilin Province. First, CS–MOS specimens comprising 0–15% CS were prepared to explore the effects of CS on the performance of MOS specimens. While the addition of 15% CS reduced the 28-d compressive strength by 21.8%, it significantly enhanced multiple performance indicators: the flexural–to–compressive strength ratio increased by 50.9%, the softening coefficient rose by 58.6%, the compressive strength loss after freeze–thaw cycles decreased by 69.7%, and the thermal conductivity decreased by 58.6%. Furthermore, three lightweight CS–MOS (L-CS–MOS) specimens with 15% CS and densities of 302.3, 366.7, and 533.1 kg/m³—L3-CS–MOS, L4-CS–MOS, and L5-CS–MOS, respectively—were prepared. In accordance with the Chinese standard JGJ/T 341-2014, these specimens were classified as A03FC1, A04FC2, and A05FC3, respectively; they exhibited thermal conductivity values below 0.100, 0.125, and 0.150 W/(m·K), respectively, meeting the standard requirements. The frost resistance of L-CS–MOS notably exceeded the following specifications: after 50 freeze–thaw cycles, the compressive strength loss remained ≤17.7% (against a 25% limit for 25 cycles in the standard) and the mass loss was ≤2.5% (compared to a 5% limit).</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"329 - 340"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aerobic composting with goat manure to degrade household pharmaceutical waste: a case study using ciprofloxacin","authors":"Juana Angélica Felipe Fernandes,&nbsp;Danilo Carvajal,&nbsp;Adriana C. Mera,&nbsp;Andrea P. Loayza,&nbsp;Diego A. G. Yabbur,&nbsp;Juan Matos","doi":"10.1007/s42768-026-00282-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-026-00282-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The proper disposal of household pharmaceutical waste (HPW) is a global challenge, particularly in arid regions with limited economic resources and inadequate sanitation infrastructure. In such contexts, composting with goat manure may offer a low-cost alternative for treating HPW, especially antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (CIP), which are linked to microorganism resistance. In this study, we evaluated whether aerobic composting with goat manure promotes the biodegradation of CIP from HPW. The experiment was conducted in 18 composting reactors over seven weeks, using two CIP concentrations (30 and 100 mg/L). Environmental conditions, physicochemical properties, and antibiotic concentration were monitored throughout. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, kinetics modeling, Kaplan–Meier curves, and Cox proportional hazard models with R software. The compost temperature reached 35.5 °C, and the final product had a pH of 8.8, electrical conductivity of 4.5 mS/cm, and a C/N ratio of 19:1. CIP exhibited a half-life of two to three weeks and followed the first-order degradation kinetics. Under high concentration conditions (100 mg/L), goat manure increased the probability of achieving ≥70% CIP degradation by the 6th week, representing a nine-fold improvement over the low concentration condition (30 mg/L). These findings suggest that aerobic composting with goat manure could be a viable and affordable strategy for reducing contamination from HPW in arid regions lacking conventional treatment options.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"367 - 378"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advanced upcycling of food waste into energy and valuable products: a comprehensive review of technologies, sustainability, and economic aspects","authors":"Sundaram Thanigaivel,&nbsp;Raja Kamalesh,&nbsp;Kadirvel Vijayasri,&nbsp;Ponnambalam Ragini Yaashikaa,&nbsp;Anbalagan Saravanan,&nbsp;Agaram Sundaram Vickram","doi":"10.1007/s42768-026-00287-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-026-00287-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The upcycling of food waste has emerged as a sustainable strategy to mitigate global food loss, supporting the goals of the circular bioeconomy. The existing literature has been fragmented, with most studies focusing on isolated technologies and lacking an integrated, technoeconomic, and sustainable perspective. This review addresses these gaps by systematically evaluating recent biological, chemical, and physical techniques and providing assessments of technological performance, economic viability, and environmental aspects. A structured meta-analysis has been conducted through data synthesis and screening from peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025. This analysis also includes the trend in the quantification of research outputs, product yield, process efficiency, and upcycling patterns. The meta-analysis revealed an over 45% upsurge in the global research on the valorization of food waste in the past decade, with 30%–60% of studies focusing on microwave-assisted hydrolysis on sugar release, 25%–40% concentrating on microalgae cultivation for an increase in nutrient recovery, and about 35% focusing on biogas yield enhancement through integrated systems. The technoeconomic evaluations demonstrated a promising investment, with a reported internal rate of return (IRR) frequently exceeding 30% and a payback period of less than five years. Despite technological advances, limitations persist, including high energy consumption in thermal processes, compositional variation in feedstock, an inadequate regulatory framework, and lower consumer acceptance of upcycled products. This review emphasizes the synergistic integration of biological, chemical, and physical techniques, along with robust economic and sustainable aspects, for technological scale-up and industrial implementation.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"465 - 482"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Solid-state fermentation of waste bread by Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oryzae: enzymatic hydrolysis and phenolic release","authors":"Miriam Dede Doku,&nbsp;Khin Su Su Hlaing,&nbsp;Mouhamed Fall,&nbsp;Steven Suryoprabowo,&nbsp;Yuliang Cheng,&nbsp;Hang Yu,&nbsp;Shaofeng Yuan,&nbsp;Yahui Guo,&nbsp;Weirong Yao","doi":"10.1007/s42768-025-00276-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-025-00276-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the biochemical and functional transformations occurring during solid-state fermentation (SSF) of waste bread flour using <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i> (AO) and <i>Rhizopus oryzae</i> (RO). Changes in physicochemical parameters (pH, titratable acidity, and water activity), microbial dynamics, sugar composition, enzymatic hydrolysis, phenolic and flavonoid release, and volatile compound evolution were monitored over 120 h. AO maintained a strongly acidic environment (pH 4.23–4.88), which is conducive to rapid phenolic liberation, reaching peak total phenolic content (1.01 mg/g (gallic acid equivalent)) at 48 h, whereas RO exhibited gradual acidification and sustained enzymatic hydrolysis, achieving higher glucose accumulation (43.56 mol/L) and prolonged phenolic stability. Both fungi reduced water activity (0.88–0.82), enhancing substrate stability. AO fermentation produced acid- and ester-rich volatiles, while RO favored malt-like aromatic compounds. Mechanistically, high phenolic accumulation in AO inhibited amylolytic enzymes at later stages, while RO maintained balanced saccharification and oxidative stability. These findings demonstrate a reciprocal relationship between enzymatic activity and phenolic metabolism, highlighting the potential of targeted fungal selection to optimize either antioxidant recovery or sugar yield. Overall, SSF of bread waste provides an effective bioconversion strategy for producing bioactive-rich and flavor-enhanced ingredients within the circular food economy framework.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"281 - 292"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of agitation speed on anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste at a pilot scale","authors":"Carlos Esteven Pulgarín-Muñoz,&nbsp;Julio César Saldarriaga-Molina,&nbsp;Johan Camilo Castro-Valencia,&nbsp;Mauricio Andres Correa-Ochoa,&nbsp;Juan David Echeverry-Ruiz","doi":"10.1007/s42768-025-00277-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-025-00277-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Anaerobic co-digestion (ACoD) of organic waste is an effective biotechnology for waste management, biogas production, and fertilizer generation. Agitation speed plays a crucial role in substrate mixing, nutrient transfer, and microbial activity. On the one hand, insufficient agitation can hinder homogeneous heat and nutrient distribution, creating dead zones. On the other hand, excessive agitation increases shear forces, destabilizing floc formation and inducing microbial stress, negatively affecting system performance. Additionally, agitation speed impacts treatment plant operational costs. This study evaluated three agitation speeds (30, 60, and 80 r/min) in ACoD of sewage sludge (SS) and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) using 1 m³ reactors. The methodology included substrate characterization, physicochemical parameter monitoring, methane (CH₄) quantification, organic matter removal, pathogenic microorganism inhibition, and heavy metal speciation. The results showed that a 30 r/min agitation speed optimized CH₄ production (1048.51 mL/g VS) and enhanced process stability. Higher agitation speeds significantly reduced performance. The modified Gompertz model exhibited the best fit for CH₄ prediction. Moreover, lower agitation speeds favored fertilizer production with agricultural potential, promoting nutrient transformation while effectively inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms without posing health or environmental risks. Optimizing agitation speed is crucial for maximizing biogas production in ACoD of SS and OFMSW, with significant industrial-scale implications.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"293 - 306"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s42768-025-00277-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing pyrolysis for sustainable upcycling of cashew nut shells into high-value carbon materials and renewable energy solutions","authors":"Tanya Srivastava,&nbsp;Diwakar Patel,&nbsp;Ravi Kumar Sonwani,&nbsp;Kedar Sahoo","doi":"10.1007/s42768-025-00278-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-025-00278-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cashew nut shell (CNS), an abundant agricultural waste, represents a promising feedstock for sustainable bioenergy productions and value-added applications. In this study, CNS was valorized through pyrolysis to generate bio-oil and biochar (a carbon-rich material). The proximate analysis of CNS revealed a high volatile matter content, which confirms its suitability as a biomass feedstock. The ultimate analysis showed a favorable hydrogen–to–carbon ratio that enhances the energy density and combustibility. The results revealed that both temperature and particle size played critical roles in determining the conversion efficiency. The maximum bio-oil yield of 39.19% was obtained at 500 °C. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis confirmed that the bio-oil was enriched with cardanol as the dominant compound, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of diverse functional groups. The improved calorific values of bio-oil (25.33 kJ/g) and biochar (32.24 kJ/g) relative to raw biomass emphasized their viability as renewable and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Biochar obtained via pyrolysis can also be utilized as a carbon material. In addition to its energy potential, the bio-oil exhibits notable antibacterial activity, highlighting its applicability in biomedical and pharmaceutical domains. These findings establish CNS-derived bio-oil as a multifunctional product for both renewable energy and pharmaceutical applications, which ultimately contributes to circular economy models.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"319 - 328"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The chlorination mechanism of arsenic during the arsenopyrite decomposition: experimental and theoretical study","authors":"Chan Zou,&nbsp;Rui Liang,&nbsp;Huimin Liu,&nbsp;Zhong Lin,&nbsp;Chunbo Wang","doi":"10.1007/s42768-026-00281-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-026-00281-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The mode of occurrence of arsenic and flue gas components significantly influences their migration behavior. However, research on microscopic forms of arsenic and the chlorination mechanism of arsenic remains limited. This study systematically elucidates arsenic’s speciation characteristics and chlorination reaction pathways through combined experimental and density functional theory (DFT) analyses. The sequential chemical extraction results show that arsenic has a high affinity for pyritic sulfur. In addition, DFT calculation results indicate that arsenic in pyrite exhibits two primary speciation modes, and the structure of substitutional arsenic is more stable compared to superficial arsenic. First, physisorption interactions between HCl and distinct FeS₂ (100) surface terminations containing arsenic are identified as the dominant pathway. For chlorination mechanism of arsenic, arsenic chloride desorption is the most difficult to occur, and arsenic chloride formation for the superficial arsenic structure is easier compared to the substitutional arsenic structure. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses indicate that higher reaction temperatures can enhance the formation of arsenic chloride, and the more arsenic chloride will be generated on surface with superficial arsenic. The combined experimental and computational results systematically elucidate arsenic’s speciation characteristics during pyrite decomposition and delineate its chlorination reaction pathways, thereby establishing a theoretical framework for arsenic transformation dynamics and capture efficiency during combustion processes.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"307 - 317"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Municipal solid waste open burning: an overview of inventory and dispersion modelling of emerging pollutant emissions","authors":"Oyetola Ogunkunle,&nbsp;Adewemimo Oluwakunmi Popoola,&nbsp;Lukuman Adekilekun Jimoda,&nbsp;Michael Olusoji Olusanya","doi":"10.1007/s42768-026-00280-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-026-00280-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The open burning of municipal solid waste (MSW) remains a significant environmental and public health challenge, particularly in developing regions where waste management systems are insufficiently regulated. This study investigates the integration of emission inventories with advanced dispersion modelling to characterize the atmospheric dynamics of pollutants released during MSW open burning. Detailed emission inventories, including particulate matters (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins, were utilized to inform models like the American Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory air-dispersion model (AERMOD) and the weather research and forecasting model with chemistry (WRF-Chem). These models simulated the spatial and temporal distributions of contaminants, enabling the quantification of exposure risks and the identification of emission hotspots. The results revealed that pollutant concentrations, particularly in communities near waste dump sites, frequently exceed national air quality standards, with PM_2.5 and VOCs posing the greatest health risks. The findings emphasize the necessity for high-resolution emission inventories to enhance the predictive accuracy of dispersion models and provide actionable insights into mitigating pollutant impacts. This study presents a comprehensive framework for integrating emission and dispersion analyses, providing policymakers and stakeholders with a critical tool for developing evidence-based waste management strategies, regulatory interventions, and air quality control measures to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of MSW burning.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 1","pages":"179 - 208"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147558765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microwave co-pyrolysis of seaweed and lignocellulosic biomass for advanced nano-biochar production","authors":"Yan Yang,&nbsp;Rock Keey Liew,&nbsp;Wan Adibah Wan Mahari,&nbsp;Peter Nai Yuh Yek,&nbsp;Su Shiung Lam","doi":"10.1007/s42768-025-00270-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42768-025-00270-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The increasing demand for sustainable carbon management and environmental remediation has elevated the importance of advanced biochar as a critical material for addressing global challenges in carbon sequestration, soil restoration, and pollutant mitigation. This perspective presents a focused review on microwave co-pyrolysis involving lignocellulosic biomass and algal feedstocks, emphasizing emerging synergies in biochar quality and process efficiency. The integration of post-treatment techniques such as ball milling and ultrasonic treatment further supports the conversion into nano-biochar (a nanostructured material) with improved adsorption capacity, catalytic efficiency, and adaptability across applications in water treatment, pollutant remediation, and carbon capture. This perspective explores the technological advantages of microwave co-pyrolysis, including its rapid and uniform heating mechanisms and synergistic feedstock interactions, which overcome the limitations of conventional methods. It also shows potential in addressing challenges to large-scale adoption, such as feedstock variability, production costs, and process scalability, while proposing pathways for advancing this technology toward a sustainable biochar economy. By linking material science innovation to broader environmental and societal goals, this perspective emphasizes the transformative potential of nano-biochar to support climate mitigation, promote sustainable agriculture, and contribute to global carbon neutrality efforts.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":807,"journal":{"name":"Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy","volume":"8 2","pages":"455 - 463"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148208817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}