When a Special Issue is proven to be highly relevant and popular within the research community, we invite the Guest Editorial Team to run an updated issue on the same topic a year or so later, in order to facilitate the most timely and up to date research on the topic. In this blog post we hear from the Lead Guest Editor of 'Recent Advances in Anaerobic Digestion and Composting Technologies 2023', an Annual Issue for The International Journal of Chemical Engineering.
What is the importance of your chosen Special Issue topic, ‘Recent Advances in Anaerobic Digestion and Composting Technologies’?
The chosen Special Issue topic, 'Recent Advances in Anaerobic Digestion and Composting Technologies', holds significant importance due to its relevance to sustainable waste management, renewable energy production, and environmental conservation. Anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting are both innovative technologies that play a crucial role in addressing several pressing global challenges. It is estimated that AD might cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 3,290 to 4,360 Mt CO2 eq., or around 10-13% of total global emissions. In the future circular and low-carbon economies, it has been demonstrated that AD and composting of food waste can be an effective technology for climate mitigation, which enables the simultaneous recovery of both the energy and nutrient content present in organic material. Withal to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and increasing the soil's capacity to act as a carbon sink, composting also strengthens a community's resistance to climate change's disruptive effects.
What is you and your Guest Editors background in this area of research?
I am a Professor (Associate) in chemical engineering with research interest in waste processing technology. I am also the head for Kundasang Compost Living Lab.
Dr. Fu Jie is a Professor in environmental microbiologist with research interests including the effects and molecular mechanisms of emerging pollutants on anaerobic digestion and composting processes.
Dr. Junidah Lamaming is a researcher with the research interest in the characterization and processing of lignocellulose-based and polymer materials, as well as the science and technology of composting.
What are some of the key developments in this area that you’ve observed in the past few years?
Here are some notable trends and advancements: Smart Monitoring and Control Systems, Hyper thermophilic Composting, Application of Molecular Biology, In-Vessel Composting Systems, Biodegradable Plastics Composting, Biochar Integration, Composting Technologies for Specific Feedstocks and Data-Driven Decision Making.
What do you encourage authors to think about when preparing their manuscripts for your Special Issue?
When preparing manuscripts for the Special Issue on 'Recent Advances in Anaerobic Digestion and Composting Technologies', authors should ensure their submissions have an up-to-date literature review, clear objective, well described methodology, effective discussion, and an impactful conclusion and abstract.
Submit your research to the Special Issue >>
If you would like to publish your research on anaerobic digestion and composting technologies, and connect with peers globally in your subject area, you can submit to this Annual Issue until 1st December, 2023. Click here to submit.
This blog post is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY). Illustration adapted from Adobe Stock by David Jury/Samuel Jennings.