Wastewater and Sustainability

The growing global demand for sustainable water management has positioned wastewater treatment as a strategic lever for achieving environmental sustainability. This review presents a comprehensive overview of emerging and advanced technologies aimed at transforming conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into energy-efficient and resource-recovering systems. The paradigm shift from pollutant removal to resource recovery aligns with circular economy principles, promoting water reuse, energy recovery, nutrient recycling, and the valorization of sludge and heavy metals. Key technological domains are explored, including membrane processes, advanced biological treatments, and cutting-edge process control and optimization strategies integrating real-time monitoring and artificial intelligence. Energy-focused innovations such as anaerobic digestion, organic Rankine cycles, and integration with renewable energy sources are highlighted for their potential to reduce WWTPs’ carbon footprint and operational costs. Moreover, the paper discusses life cycle assessment (LCA) approaches to quantify environmental impacts, underscoring the importance of system scale, technology integration, and renewable energy adoption. The review concludes by identifying economic, technical, and scalability challenges while emphasizing the vital role of chemical engineering simulations in optimizing processes and supporting future research. These integrated strategies contribute to the development of sustainable, resilient wastewater treatment systems aligned with global environmental and resource efficiency goals.