Low-carbon Treatment and Resource Recovery of Municipal Wastewater and Sludge

The field of microbiological treatment of sludge is experiencing rapid development due to increasing environmental pressures and a global drive towards sustainability. Traditional activated sludge processes, while widely implemented for over a century, face growing scrutiny as wastewater production increases and discharge regulations become more stringent. Central challenges include low treatment efficiency, excessive energy consumption, generation of large volumes of excess sludge, and limited opportunities for advanced resource recovery. These challenges elevate the importance of rethinking sludge management strategies, especially under ambitious carbon-neutrality and circular economy goals. Recent advances in environmental biotechnology have highlighted the essential roles of microbial communities in not only degrading pollutants but also in unlocking valuable resources contained within sludge. Despite these promising directions, current solutions require further refinement in both scientific understanding and technological application, particularly in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of microbial processes.This Research Topic aims to shine a spotlight on the latest innovations, mechanisms, and practical applications in the microbiological treatment of sludge. Key objectives include identifying novel microbial pathways for pollutant removal, understanding and optimizing microbial consortia for improved process outcomes, and developing integrated approaches that align energy conservation with resource recovery. Contributors are encouraged to address both fundamental aspects of microbial ecology and applied strategies for transforming excess sludge into value-added products. The Research Topic also seeks to explore mitigation of emerging risks, such as the fate of antibiotic resistance genes, while striving for robust, scalable, and low-carbon solutions.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses advances and interventions specifically centered on the microbiological treatment of municipal sludge, with an emphasis on low-carbon, energy-efficient, and resource-positive approaches. Review and original research articles are encouraged, as well as case studies demonstrating innovative applications. To gather further insights into this rapidly evolving domain, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Novel microbial and metabolic pathways for nutrient removal and sludge stabilization• Advanced microbial community engineering for improved sludge valorization• Microbially driven processes for the recovery of energy carriers (e.g., biogas, hydrogen) and value-added compounds (e.g., VFAs, biopolymers)• Integration and optimization of microbial fuel cells and bioelectrochemical systems in sludge treatment• Strategies for monitoring, mitigating, and understanding the spread and removal of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in sludge processing systemsPlease note that Microbiotechnology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles or comparisons of nucleic acid extracts (e.g., metagenomics), unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied. Topic editors: Omprakash Sarkar, Shashi Kant Bhatia, Hong Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77866/low-carbon-treatment-and-resource-recovery-of-municipal-wastewater-and-sludge