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Sustainability
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Clean Technologies and Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
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Clean Technologies and Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 4361

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hui Gong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Interests: anaerobic digestion and resource recovery; waste water; membrane separation and desalination; carbon-neutral wastewater treatment; anammox technologies
Dr. Abdulmoseen Segun Giwa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330108, China
Interests: waste; wastewater; anaerobic digestion; pyrolysis; sustainability; circular economy
Dr. Emmanuel Alepu Odey

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Circular Bioeconomy Research Group, Munster Technological University, Munster Technological University, Clash Road, Clash West, 2620 Tralee, Ireland
Interests: wastewater treatment; anaerobic digestion; circular bioeconomy; energy efficiency in wastewater treatment plants; resource recovery from waste through fermentation, dewatering, and pyrolysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the latest advancements in clean and sustainable technologies for wastewater treatment, addressing pressing environmental challenges and supporting global efforts toward resource efficiency, pollution mitigation, and water reuse. As the demand for high-performance and eco-efficient treatment systems grows, it is imperative to develop and implement innovative solutions that go beyond conventional approaches.

We encourage submissions that present technological innovations, integrated treatment systems, and multidisciplinary strategies to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and scalability of wastewater treatment processes. This includes but is not limited to biological, chemical, physical, and hybrid treatment technologies designed to minimize environmental impact, enhance energy and resource recovery, and comply with stringent discharge regulations.

Areas of particular interest include the development of next-generation treatment technologies (e.g., advanced oxidation, membrane filtration, electrochemical processes, and anaerobic digestion); integrated and modular systems for decentralized or industrial wastewater treatment; resource and energy recovery from wastewater (e.g., biogas, nutrients, and water reuse); automation, process control, and digital tools (e.g., AI, machine learning, and IoT) in smart wastewater treatment; sustainability assessment, including life cycle analysis, carbon footprint, and techno-economic evaluations; and treatment of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and PFAS, and thermochemical processes/technologies, among others.

We welcome original research articles, technical reviews, and case studies that provide new insights into clean and sustainable wastewater treatment solutions.

Dr. Hui Gong
Dr. Abdulmoseen Segun Giwa
Dr. Emmanuel Alepu Odey
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wastewater treatment
  • clean technologies
  • sustainable water management
  • resource recovery
  • advanced oxidation processes
  • membrane filtration
  • electrochemical treatment
  • anaerobic digestion
  • decentralized systems
  • energy efficiency
  • emerging contaminants
  • circular economy
  • life cycle assessment
  • smart water systems
  • hybrid treatment technologies
  • integrated technologies

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4903 KB  
Article
Occurrence, Composition, and Risk Assessment of Microplastics and Adsorbed Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban Drainage Sediments Along the Yangtze River, China
by Xiaoyang Bai, Hui Gong, Hongwu Wang, Abdulmoseen Segun Giwa, Emmanuel Alepu Odey, Zhen Zhou and Xiaohu Dai
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1502; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031502 - 2 Feb 2026
Viewed by 440
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) represent pervasive contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, acting as carriers for persistent organic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study systematically investigated the occurrence, composition, and ecological risks of MPs and adsorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban drainage sediments from three [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs) represent pervasive contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, acting as carriers for persistent organic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study systematically investigated the occurrence, composition, and ecological risks of MPs and adsorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban drainage sediments from three Yangtze River cities: Chongqing (Yongchuan), Changzhou (Jintan), and Shanghai (Tongji University campus). The key findings revealed MPs’ abundances ranging from 130 to 564 items/100 g (mean: 346 items/100 g), with peak concentrations in campus commercial areas (498.4 items/100 g) and academic zones (420 items/100 g). Predominant polymers included polypropylene (PP, 15.29%), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 15.88%), and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE, 14.98%). Granular MPs (75–300 μm) dominated particle size (50.09%), while colored MPs (66.54%)—particularly red (32.84%) and black (27.92%)—were most prevalent. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on MPs ranged from 0.88 to 120.59 ng/g (mean: 5.76–67.66 ng/g), dominated by four-ring compounds (44.59%). Sediment-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ranged from 0.63 to 60.09 ng/g (mean: 2.12–36.96 ng/g), with 5–6-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (42%) as primary constituents. Significant correlations emerged between four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fibrous MPs (r = 0.33, p = 0.021) and black MPs (r = 0.23, p = 0.04). This study underscores urban drainage sediments as critical reservoirs and transport pathways for MPs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which is crucial for sustainable management for urban drainage systems. We advocate for implementing targeted management strategies that prioritize three interconnected approaches: enhanced monitoring of high-risk zones (particularly commercial areas), focused control of small-sized MPs (<300 μm) due to their elevated ecological threats, and systematic mitigation of PAH-MP co-contamination in densely populated catchments to disrupt pollutant transmission pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clean Technologies and Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment)
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Review

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17 pages, 846 KB  
Review
Strategies for Eutrophication Control in Tropical and Subtropical Lakes
by Cristian Alberto Espinosa-Rodríguez, Luz Jazmin Montes-Campos, Ligia Rivera-De la Parra, Alfredo Pérez-Morales and Alfonso Lugo-Vázquez
Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 7755; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17177755 - 28 Aug 2025
Viewed by 2511
Abstract
Eutrophication, a growing environmental concern, exacerbates algal blooms and alters the physical and chemical properties of water, thereby diminishing biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem services. While various control strategies have been developed, most are designed for temperate regions and may not be applicable [...] Read more.
Eutrophication, a growing environmental concern, exacerbates algal blooms and alters the physical and chemical properties of water, thereby diminishing biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem services. While various control strategies have been developed, most are designed for temperate regions and may not be applicable to tropical systems, which differ ecologically and climatically. This study reviewed 84 articles published between 2000 and 2024, focusing on eutrophication management in tropical and subtropical lakes. The studies were categorized into physical (8), chemical (17), and biological (59) approaches. Over time, research activity has increased, with Asia leading in publication output. Among biological strategies, biomanipulation—especially the use of macrophytes—emerged as the most common and effective strategy. Macrophytes are preferred due to their strong antagonistic interaction with algae, ease of implementation, cost-effectiveness, and minimal ecological risks. While the review also addresses the limitations of each method, it concludes that macrophyte-based biomanipulation remains a promising tool for mitigating eutrophication in tropical and subtropical freshwater ecosystems. In this context, effective lake restoration requires balancing ecological goals with human needs, supported by stakeholder engagement, community education, and multi-sectoral governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clean Technologies and Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment)
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