Abstract: This scientific note reviews current approaches for using membrane technology to treat wastewater from food processing, for example, as a means to produce water by recovering components with high added value. In addition, with regard to the availability of wastewater, processes that contain membranes have been shown to be advantageous in terms of treating waste, recovering solutes, and producing water. With regard to the latter, processes that contain membranes can be considered to be a sustainable methodology given the valorization of waste. Lastly, this note provides a brief general view emphasizing a real need to apply membrane technology in the food industry, and indicates that its application is undoubtedly to come. | Resumen: Esta nota científica revisa los enfoques actuales de la tecnología de membranas para el tratamiento de residuos del procesamiento de alimentos; por ejemplo, como vía para la producción de agua a través de la recuperación de componentes de alto valor agregado. Además, se ha demostrado que los procesos integrados de membrana pueden ofrecer la ventaja de realizar las siguientes tareas en términos de disposición de aguas residuales: tratamiento de residuos, recuperación de solutos y producción de agua. Esto último permite considerar a los procesos integrados de membrana como una metodología sustentable a través de la valorización de residuos. Por último, esta nota provee una breve visión general, resaltando que la aplicación de la tecnología de membranas en verdad es necesaria en la industria alimentaria y que seguramente su implementación real aún está por venir.

Castro-Muñoz, R., Fíla, V., Rodríguez-Romero, V. M., & Yáñez-Fernández, J. (November-December, 2017). Water production from food processing wastewaters using integrated membrane systems: A sustainable approach. Water Technology and Sciences (in English), 8(6), 129-136, DOI: 10.24850/j-tyca-2017-06-09. This scientific note reviews current approaches for using membrane technology to treat wastewater from food processing, for example, as a means to produce water by recovering components with high added value. In addition, with regard to the availability of wastewater, processes that contain membranes have been shown to be advantageous in terms of treating waste, recovering solutes, and producing water. With regard to the latter, processes that contain membranes can be considered to be a sustainable methodology given the valorization of waste. Lastly, this note provides a brief general view emphasizing a real need to apply membrane technology in the food industry, and indicates that its application is undoubtedly to come.

Singapore is a city-island-state in the transition towards a circular economy. The country has already implemented policies and adopted several approaches that contribute to closing loops for e-waste, packaging waste, and food waste. However, other areas that also contribute to a circular economy have not been fully explored in Singapore. One of these areas is resource recovery from wastewater streams. In this report, we review state-of-the-art technologies to recover valuable components from domestic wastewater and sludge. These technologies are analyzed based on technological maturity and applicability for the recovery of phosphate, and organic compounds such as volatile fatty acids, bioplastics, and biomass. The report covers the current status of the recovery of these compounds in the Singaporean context and identifies factors that can promote or prevent the application of the recovery processes.

The interwoven relationship between food, energy, and water (FEW) is described as the FEW nexus. The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the FEW nexus and impeded the progress of FEW-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (SDG 2: Zero Hunger; 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; 7: Affordable and Clean Energy). We aim to find solutions to recover the FEW nexus from COVID-19. First, we discussed the challenges faced by FEW amid COVID-19. Second, we observed responses of the FEW nexus under COVID-19's interference. Finally, we proposed the solutions that guide the FEW nexus in recovery from the pandemic by mining 164 FEW-related SDG Acceleration Actions. The key solutions include 1) building or upgrading FEW facilities and infrastructure, 2) improving nature's contribution to the FEW nexus, 3) developing digital technologies, 4) innovating the source and production of FEW, and 5) promoting community production and transforming the lifestyle. Our work highlights the importance of feasible and accelerated actions that recover the FEW nexus in the post-pandemic era.