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Physical–Chemical Wastewater Treatment Technologies
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Physical–Chemical Wastewater Treatment Technologies

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Wastewater Treatment and Reuse".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2025) | Viewed by 4738

Special Issue Editors

Dr. María Francisca Gómez-Rico

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante, Ap. 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain
Interests: sewage sludge; wastewater; waste management; composting; thermal treatments; persistent organic pollutants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. María Dolores Saquete

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante, Ap. 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain
Interests: phase equilibrium; water quality; electromagnetic treatment; contamination of sediments and marine organisms; emerging contaminants; wastewater; microorganisms

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that wastewater contains organic and inorganic pollutants, and they may pose hazards to human health and ecosystems. The current action plans regarding the circular economy call for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to be turned into water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). In this scenario, treatment activities are focused on improving water and sewage sludge quality for recovery opportunities and minimizing environmental damage. Physical–chemical treatments are particularly important to remove water-insoluble substances or colloids. This is achieved through the addition of coagulants and flocculants. Conventional processes are focused on macropollutants including suspended solids, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and pathogens from wastewater; however, they are not designed to effectively remove micropollutants, such as recalcitrant pharmaceuticals. Finding the proper technology to remove these compounds is still challenging.

In this Special Issue, we invite submissions studying recent advances in the field of physical–chemical treatments for wastewater, including theoretical and experimental analyses, as well as comprehensive review papers. They will undoubtedly contribute to the knowledge and development of the technology. The following topics are proposed, although other related topics are also welcome:

  • Development of new physical, chemical and hybrid treatments for wastewater containing micropollutants;
  • Improvement of existing methods to achieve higher removal of pollutants;
  • Development of cost-effective methods;
  • Analysis of emerging micropollutants in wastewater and sewage sludge;
  • Fate and transport of pollutants in water and sewage sludge.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. María Francisca Gómez-Rico
Dr. María Dolores Saquete
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. Water 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 2600 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

  • micropollutants
  • emerging pollutants
  • persistent organic pollutants
  • advanced wastewater technologies
  • sewage sludge pollution
  • physical–chemical treatments

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1990 KiB  
Article
Optimizing UV Photodegradation of Chlorothalonil with Reflective Materials (Silver-White Aluminium Foil)
by Jingfeng Xue, Siyu Chen, Xin Ma, Taozhong Shi, Huiting Wu, Zhaowen Liu, Rimao Hua and Youkun Huang
Water 2025, 17(7), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071032 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 148
Abstract
This study investigated the photocatalytic degradation of chlorothalonil under a range of ultraviolet lamp configurations, and studied the improvement in the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of a reflective material (silver-white aluminium foil). Increasing the number of UV lamps significantly enhanced degradation efficiency, reducing the [...] Read more.
This study investigated the photocatalytic degradation of chlorothalonil under a range of ultraviolet lamp configurations, and studied the improvement in the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of a reflective material (silver-white aluminium foil). Increasing the number of UV lamps significantly enhanced degradation efficiency, reducing the half-life from 29.95 min with one lamp to 8.15 min with four in a 20 cm enamel bucket. The use of silvery-white aluminium foil further decreased the half-life to 3.86 min, improving degradation rates by up to 262.9%. In larger containers, degradation efficiency increased by up to 414.7% with aluminium foil. Comparisons with black aluminium foil confirmed that silver-white aluminium foil enhanced degradation by reflecting and redistributing UV light, increasing intensity by 252% and reducing the CTL half-life from 150.36 min to 22.9 min in a controlled light box. Further tests confirmed that silver-white aluminium foil amplified UV irradiation, increasing degradation efficiency by up to 555.1%. These improvements might suggest that aluminium foil enhances UV utilisation through direct reflection, refraction, and diffuse reflection, effectively redirecting photons that would otherwise escape the system. Experiments with natural water sources showed similar trends, with half-lives of 55.23 min in ultrapure water, 12.63 min in pond water, and 16.36 min in paddy field water. The addition of silver-white aluminium foil further reduced these times to 23.92 min, 7.13 min, and 12.34 min, respectively. These findings demonstrate that silvery-white aluminium foil significantly enhances CTL photodegradation without increasing energy consumption. While effective, the method faces challenges in acidic or alkaline wastewater due to potential corrosion of system components. Future research should focus on identifying stable, high-reflectivity materials for long-term applications. This study offers practical insights into the optimisation of photodegradation processes, which contributes to improved water treatment strategies and environmental pollution mitigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical–Chemical Wastewater Treatment Technologies)
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16 pages, 4491 KiB  
Article
Advanced Oxidation Processes and Adsorption Technologies for the Removal of Organic Azo Compounds: UV, H2O2, and GAC
by M. Ferre, M. J. Moya-Llamas, E. Dominguez, Nuria Ortuño and D. Prats
Water 2025, 17(2), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17020212 - 14 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1128
Abstract
This research focuses on the removal of emerging contaminants (CEC) present in synthetic aqueous matrices. Azole compounds were selected as CEC of interest due to their persistence and toxicity, particularly the triazole and oxazole groups. These compounds are also trace contaminants listed in [...] Read more.
This research focuses on the removal of emerging contaminants (CEC) present in synthetic aqueous matrices. Azole compounds were selected as CEC of interest due to their persistence and toxicity, particularly the triazole and oxazole groups. These compounds are also trace contaminants listed in the proposed revision of Directive 91/271/EEC on urban wastewater treatment and the 3rd European Union Observation List (Implementing Decision EU 2020/116), highlighting their regulatory importance. The draft Directive includes the implementation of quaternary treatments to achieve the highest possible removal rates of micropollutants. Among the technologies used on a large scale are some advanced oxidation processes (AOP), often combined with adsorption on activated carbon (AC). Laboratory-scale pilot plants have been designed and operated in this research, including UV photolysis and oxidation with H2O2 and adsorption with GAC. The results demonstrate that UV photolysis is able to remove all the selected CECs except fluconazole, reaching eliminations higher than 86% at high doses of 31.000 J/m2. Treatment by H2O2 achieved removals of 4 to 55%, proving to be ineffective in the degradation of persistent compounds when acting as a single technology. Adsorption by AC is improved with longer contact times, reaching removals above 80% for benzotriazole and methyl benzotriazole at short contact times, followed by sulfamethoxazole and tebuconazole. Fluconazole had a mean adsorption capacity at low contact times, while metconazole and penconazole showed low adsorption capacities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical–Chemical Wastewater Treatment Technologies)
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15 pages, 1615 KiB  
Article
Modelling the Fate of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate in Agricultural Soil Columns during Inflow of Surfactant Pulses from Domestic Wastewaters
by María Dolores Saquete, Nuria Boluda-Botella, Vicente Cases and Ester Egea
Water 2024, 16(14), 2068; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142068 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1285
Abstract
Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), a widely used anionic surfactant, is present in wastewater and can be discharged, causing environmental damage. When biodegradation is negligible, adsorption and desorption reactions play an important role, depending on the media characteristics (organic matter and clays) and hydrodynamic [...] Read more.
Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), a widely used anionic surfactant, is present in wastewater and can be discharged, causing environmental damage. When biodegradation is negligible, adsorption and desorption reactions play an important role, depending on the media characteristics (organic matter and clays) and hydrodynamic parameters. Previously published laboratory column data are modelled with PHREEQC (version 2.18) in three scenarios of LAS input: spill (LAS pulse), continuous discharge (LAS adsorption step) and remediation (LAS desorption step). The distribution coefficients (0.1–4.9 × 10−3 L/g) in the sand columns are lower than those determined in this paper from batch tests and in columns of 25% and 50% agricultural soil mixtures (1–70 × 10−3 L/g). Considering the Freundlich constant parameters from the modelling, the results are similar to the distribution coefficients, but the linear isotherms are more consistent throughout. The mass transfer coefficient from the sand columns is lower than the agricultural soil columns (20–40 h−1), indicating longer elution times for the heavier homologues and a higher percentage of agricultural soil. For lighter homologues, fast migration could cause contamination of aquifers. The great persistence of LAS in the environment necessitates the development of mitigation strategies using reactive transport models, which predict longer times for the remediation of LAS homologues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical–Chemical Wastewater Treatment Technologies)
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17 pages, 2305 KiB  
Article
Behavior of PCDD/Fs and PCBs from Wastewater Treatment Plants during Sewage Sludge Composting: Study of Semi-Anaerobic Conditions and Different Stages of the Process
by Maria Francisca Gomez-Rico, Teresa Hernandez, Maria Angeles Garrido and Rafael Font
Water 2024, 16(11), 1545; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111545 - 27 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1238
Abstract
Composting is a common treatment for the high amounts of sewage sludge produced in wastewater treatment plants, and the product is used in agriculture. Composting reduces the levels of biodegradable organic pollutants, although other compounds present in wastewater and not eliminated previously by [...] Read more.
Composting is a common treatment for the high amounts of sewage sludge produced in wastewater treatment plants, and the product is used in agriculture. Composting reduces the levels of biodegradable organic pollutants, although other compounds present in wastewater and not eliminated previously by conventional physical–chemical and chemical treatments, such as polychorodibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), have been found in the final compost at higher levels than those observed in the initial sludge. Their formation was studied during composting under unfavorable aeration conditions and paying attention to different stages of the process. Experiments were carried out in small vessels inside a controlled oven for three types of sewage sludge. Pentachlorophenol was previously added as a dioxin precursor. A clear formation of PCDD/Fs was found, especially during the maturation stage for two experiments. Mainly octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and 1234678-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1234678-HpCDD) to a lesser extent were formed. OCDD levels in the final samples were around 10 times higher than those of the initial mixture after removing the concentration effect. No clear formation nor degradation of PCBs was observed. The toxicity values due to PCDD/Fs and PCBs found in the initial mixtures were 1.20–2.46 ng WHO-TEQ/kg, and those from the final samples were 2.30–7.86 ng WHO-TEQ/kg. Although the toxicity values are below the most restrictive limits found in Europe in this case, toxicity could increase considerably with the presence and concentration of other precursors. Compost from sewage sludge is an ecological product, but the operating conditions must be controlled to avoid PCDD/F formation and facilitate degradation of persistent organic pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical–Chemical Wastewater Treatment Technologies)
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