sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

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: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1824

Special Issue Editors

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

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

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

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 697
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
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop