Conference

 

Track 1 /// Catalytic and Photocatalytic Materials for Waste, Water, and Wastewater Treatment

Track 2 /// Emerging Pollutants (such as PFOS, FFOA, and PPCP) Removal

Track 3 /// Water and Wastewater Pollution Analysis and Control

 

Track 4 /// Water Reclamation and Reuse

Track 5 /// Production of Green Energy, Clean Energy, and Renewable Energy

Track 6 /// Waste Management and Waste-to-Energy

Track 7 /// Grid-Connected Renewable Energy and Energy Management

Track 8 /// Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Materials

 

Track 9 /// Biotechnology for Waste Treatment and Recovery

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Track 10 /// Bioplastics and Biodegradation: Sustainable Pathways for Circular Bioeconomy

Biography of Organizers:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülizar Kurtoğlu Akkaya is an academician in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Necmettin Erbakan University, Faculty of Engineering, Türkiye. She received her Ph.D. from Yıldız Technical University in 2018, with a dissertation on the treatment of landfill leachate using a submerged electro-membrane bioreactor system. Her main research interests include wastewater and leachate treatment, sludge management, electrochemical oxidation processes, circular economy approaches, and bio-based materials.
Dr. Kurtoğlu Akkaya has extensive experience in both national and international research collaborations. Her recent studies focus on electrocoagulation, hybrid electrochemical systems, biochar-assisted remediation, and the valorization of waste-derived biomaterials into sustainable polymers and bioplastics. She has coordinated and contributed to several projects funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)—including programs such as 1001, 1507, 2218, and 2219—as well as university-supported research on environmental pollution control and resource recovery.
Her works have been published in leading international journals such as Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Separation and Purification Technology and Chemical Engineering Research and Design. Alongside her research activities, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on waste management, sludge control, and environmental economics, and supervises students developing innovative and sustainable solutions for environmental challenges.
Currently, Dr. Kurtoğlu Akkaya’s research focuses on developing low-cost, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly materials from renewable and waste-based resources, with an emphasis on biodegradation behavior, cost efficiency, and life cycle assessment (LCA) within the circular bioeconomy framework.

Short description of the proposed topic:
This special session will focus on recent advances in the production and characterization of bioplastics derived from low-cost and waste-based feedstocks. Topics include innovative synthesis routes using agricultural, food, or industrial residues; evaluation of biodegradation behavior under different environmental conditions (soil, compost, aquatic); and comparison with conventional plastics and microplastic alternatives. The session also welcomes studies on cost analysis, techno-economic feasibility, and life cycle assessment (LCA) of bio-based polymer systems. It aims to promote a comprehensive understanding of how bioplastics can support a sustainable and circular materials economy.

Novelty and motivation:
This session stands out by integrating low-cost resource utilization, biopolymer innovation, and environmental degradation assessment within a single framework. While conventional conference sessions often focus separately on polymer synthesis or waste management, this one bridges these domains to explore how inexpensive or waste-derived materials can be transformed into functional bioplastics with minimal environmental impact. It also emphasizes comparative biodegradation studies, microplastic substitution potential, and life cycle–based cost and sustainability analyses, which are rarely discussed together.
By combining these complementary perspectives, the session provides a unique platform for researchers and practitioners to discuss the full journey—from feedstock to degradation and circularity—in support of a more sustainable and resource-efficient materials future.

Submission channel: https://confsys.iconf.org/submission/iceeb2026 (please choose the correct special session title when you submit)
Submission deadline: May 31, 2026
Conference email: iceeb@cbees.org (please inquire the secretary when you meet questions during submission)