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Novel Insights on Wastewater Treatment Processes for Sustainable Removal of Emerging Contaminants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 July 2024) | Viewed by 9546

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Olga Matos de Freitas

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Guest Editor
REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
Interests: wastewater treatments; sustainable treatment processes; tertiary treatments; biosorption; advanced oxidation processes; biowastes valorization (sorbent and biofilm prodution); emerging contaminants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Marta Otero

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Chemistry and Physics, University of León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
Interests: water pollution and contamination; water purification; wastewater treatment; sustainable treatment processes; circular economy; biomass energy; biowastes management and valorization; novel materials: production, characterization and utilization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sónia Figueiredo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia Do Porto, Politécnico Do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: environmental engineering; characterization of samples (water, wastewater, surface water, soil, sludge, solid wastes); water treatment; wastewater treatment; valorization of biowastes; adsorption; advanced oxidation processes; ecotoxicity; removal of pharmaceuticals and microplastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Protecting Nature is of the utmost importance to prevent further loss of biodiversity. Conservation and restoration activities are urgently needed to protect the biodiversity of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Emerging contaminants are among the current threats to ecosystems and human health. Major sources of this sort of pollution are the discharges from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) because the existing treatment processes do not efficiently remove emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics.

In this context, research on the characterization and evaluation of hazards, and on the development of efficient technologies for the elimination of emerging contaminants from wastewater, is essential. The development of economical and sustainable technologies is needed to promote the safe use and reuse of water. In this sense, ecotoxicity tests are a meaningful risk assessment tool to evaluate the toxicity effects of WWTP effluents and guarantee their safe discharge in the environment. Finally, methodologies such as life cycle analysis and life cycle cost analysis are very useful to assess and quantify the environmental and economic/financial viability of water management strategies.

In this Special Issue (SI), we would like to invite researchers working on emerging contaminants to share cutting-edge advances in wastewater treatments that may contribute to the sustainability and safety of wastewater treatment and reuse, and to present developing methodologies to assess ecosystem conservation and restoration. The listed keywords illustrate just a few of the many possibilities.

Dr. Olga Matos de Freitas
Prof. Dr. Marta Otero
Dr. Sónia Figueiredo
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

  • emerging contaminants
  • wastewater characterization
  • wastewater reuse
  • circular economy
  • sustainable strategies
  • advanced wastewater treatment
  • ecotoxicity
  • life cycle assessment

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 10825 KiB  
Article
Effects of pH on the Photocatalytic Activity and Degradation Mechanism of Rhodamine B over Fusiform Bi Photocatalysts under Visible Light
by Yuli Chen, Dechong Ma, Guowen He and Sai Pan
Water 2024, 16(17), 2389; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172389 - 25 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1113
Abstract
In this study, fusiform bismuth (Bi) was synthesized, and its photocatalytic performance, degradation mechanism, and pathways for removing rhodamine B (RhB) at different pH levels were investigated. Additionally, the morphologies, structural characteristics, surface electronic states, optical properties, active species, and potential degradation pathways [...] Read more.
In this study, fusiform bismuth (Bi) was synthesized, and its photocatalytic performance, degradation mechanism, and pathways for removing rhodamine B (RhB) at different pH levels were investigated. Additionally, the morphologies, structural characteristics, surface electronic states, optical properties, active species, and potential degradation pathways of RhB over the fusiform Bi were analyzed. The comparison of the results before and after RhB degradation using the fusiform Bi revealed the formation of a Bi/BiOCl heterojunction photocatalyst. At pH 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0, the heterojunction exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, with RhB removal efficiencies of ~97%, 96.7%, 72.6%, 53.5%, and 27.6%, respectively. Moreover, total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand analyses were performed to evaluate the mineralization rates of RhB with the fusiform Bi at pH 3.0 and 7.0. Furthermore, the effects of catalyst content, initial RhB concentration, light source distance, inorganic anions, and reactant temperature on the photocatalytic performance of the fusiform Bi were investigated. Additionally, the types of active species and potential photocatalytic mechanisms for RhB degradation over the fusiform Bi at different pH levels (3.0 and 7.0) were elucidated. The appropriate degradation pathways were identified via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry at pH 3.0 and 7.0. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights on Wastewater Treatment Processes for Sustainable Removal of Emerging Contaminants)
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17 pages, 2617 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Efficiency of Microalgae in the Removal of Salicylic Acid from Contaminated Water: Insights from Zebrafish Embryo Toxicity Tests
by Carla Escapa, Ricardo N. Coimbra, Moonis Ali Khan, Teresa Neuparth, Miguel Machado Santos and Marta Otero
Water 2024, 16(13), 1874; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16131874 - 29 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1042
Abstract
Microalgae-based water treatments for the removal of different types of pollution have been gaining considerable attention during the last few decades. However, information about microalgae potential in the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and the ecotoxicological outcomes is still limited. [...] Read more.
Microalgae-based water treatments for the removal of different types of pollution have been gaining considerable attention during the last few decades. However, information about microalgae potential in the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and the ecotoxicological outcomes is still limited. Therefore, in this work, we aimed at investigating salicylic acid removal from water by three different microalgae strains, namely Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus. For such a purpose, photobioreactors were operated under batch and semi-continuous mode. Apart from determining the reduction in the concentration of salicylic acid attained by each strain, we used zebrafish embryo bioassays to assess the efficiency of microalgae to reduce its toxicity effects. S. obliquus was the strain that achieved the most significant decrease in the concentration and toxic effects of salicylic acid. Indeed, S. obliquus was able to rescue mortality and reduce abnormalities at practically 100%. The efficiency of C. sorokiniana and, especially, that of C. vulgaris were not so remarkable, indicating that the removal of SA and its toxic effects from water by microalgae is markedly strain dependent. The obtained results proved the importance of considering toxic effects for a more comprehensive evaluation of microalgae efficiency in the removal of PPCPs in view of an adequate selection for water treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights on Wastewater Treatment Processes for Sustainable Removal of Emerging Contaminants)
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21 pages, 2654 KiB  
Article
Producing Efficient Adsorbents from Kraft Lignin for the Removal of Contaminants from Water—A Full Factorial Design
by Tayra R. Brazil, Érika M. L. Sousa, Erick G. R. dos Anjos, Nayara K. Moura, Luciana S. Rocha, Vânia Calisto, Maraísa Gonçalves and Mirabel C. Rezende
Water 2024, 16(13), 1838; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16131838 - 27 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 840
Abstract
This work aimed at optimizing the preparation of activated carbon (AC) from Kraft lignin for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) and amoxicillin (AMX) from water. A full factorial design of three factors (precursor:activating agent (H3PO4) ratio, pyrolysis temperature, [...] Read more.
This work aimed at optimizing the preparation of activated carbon (AC) from Kraft lignin for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) and amoxicillin (AMX) from water. A full factorial design of three factors (precursor:activating agent (H3PO4) ratio, pyrolysis temperature, and residence time) at two levels was used to optimize the AC production. Eight AC products were obtained and evaluated considering the following responses: product yield, specific surface area (SBET), energy consumption, and adsorptive removal of the contaminants under study. The produced AC presented satisfactory SBET, ranging between 750 and 1335 m2 g−1, and efficient adsorption of MB and AMX from water, achieving up to 99% removal under the studied experimental conditions (100 mg L−1 of MB and AMX solution and material dose of 1 g L−1). Statistical analysis showed that product yield and energy consumption for AC production were influenced by temperature and residence time. The determination of a desirability function indicated a precursor/H3PO4 ratio of 1:2, pyrolysis at 700 °C, and residence time of 60 min as the optimal production conditions. The optimized AC presented SBET 1335 m2 g−1 and maximum adsorption capacity of 210 and 280 mg g−1 for MB and AMX, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights on Wastewater Treatment Processes for Sustainable Removal of Emerging Contaminants)
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19 pages, 14987 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline by Magnetically Separable g-C3N4-Doped Magnetite@Titanium Dioxide Heterostructured Photocatalyst
by Rong Liu, Mingming Li, Jie Chen, Yu Yin, Wei Zhao, Zhanghao Gong, Hua Jin and Zhigang Liu
Water 2024, 16(10), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16101372 - 11 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1028
Abstract
Residual drug pollutants in water environments represent a severe risk to human health, so developing a cheap, environmentally friendly, and effective photocatalyst to deal with them has become a hot topic. Herein, a magnetically separable Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3 [...] Read more.
Residual drug pollutants in water environments represent a severe risk to human health, so developing a cheap, environmentally friendly, and effective photocatalyst to deal with them has become a hot topic. Herein, a magnetically separable Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst with a special heterojunction structure was fabricated, and its photocatalytic performance was assessed by degrading tetracycline (TC). Compared to Fe3O4@TiO2, the synthesized Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3N4 exhibited superior TC degradation performance, which was primarily ascribed to the heterojunction formed between TiO2 and g-C3N4 and its ability to enhance the visible light absorption capacity and reduce the photoinduced electron/hole recombination rate. Moreover, a free radical capture experiment further confirmed that ·O2− and h+ are the predominant components in the TC degradation reaction. Under UV–Vis irradiation, the TC degradation rate escalated to as high as 98% within 120 min. Moreover, Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3N4 was demonstrated to be easily recovered by magnetic separation without any notable loss even after five cycles, showing exceptional stability and reusability. These findings indicate that Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3N4 is a promising photocatalyst for environmental remediation that may provide a sustainable approach to degrading antibiotic pollutants in wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights on Wastewater Treatment Processes for Sustainable Removal of Emerging Contaminants)
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15 pages, 4227 KiB  
Article
Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes from Clinical Laboratory Wastewater
by J. H. Ramírez Franco, S. D. Castañeda Cárdenas and H. R. Zea Ramírez
Water 2023, 15(6), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061238 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2285
Abstract
Clinical laboratory wastewaters are of important environmental concern due to the highly complex chemical reagents and dyes used to identify various pathologies, which are difficult to degrade by conventional treatment methods. The present research aimed to assess the effects of ilmenite use in [...] Read more.
Clinical laboratory wastewaters are of important environmental concern due to the highly complex chemical reagents and dyes used to identify various pathologies, which are difficult to degrade by conventional treatment methods. The present research aimed to assess the effects of ilmenite use in the discoloration process of clinical laboratory wastewater. The wastewater originates from a Gram staining process used to identify pathogenic microorganisms present in biological samples. The active ingredient is crystal violet, a triphenylmethane dye derivative, highly toxic and non-biodegradable that causes a shiny purple color in the wastewater. The ilmenite was characterized by X-ray Fluorescence, X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and Nitrogen adsorption isotherm, while the discoloration process of the wastewater was measured by UV–Vis spectrophotometry and pH change trough the reaction time, evaluating different ilmenite loads, particle size and stability under light sources with different energies. Chemical oxygen demand analysis confirmed that acid formation and discoloration were associated with organic substance mineralization. Type C ultraviolet light and 0.7 g/L load were identified as the best operating conditions for the discoloration process. It was possible to establish that ilmenite is stable after four uses in the discoloration process, obtaining, in all cases, discoloration percentages higher than 90% after 3 h of irradiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights on Wastewater Treatment Processes for Sustainable Removal of Emerging Contaminants)
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Review

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59 pages, 2880 KiB  
Review
Use of Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticles (nZVIs) from Environmentally Friendly Synthesis for the Removal of Dyes from Water—A Review
by Cristina Rodríguez-Rasero, Vicente Montes-Jimenez, María F. Alexandre-Franco, Carmen Fernández-González, Jesús Píriz-Tercero and Eduardo Manuel Cuerda-Correa
Water 2024, 16(11), 1607; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111607 - 4 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1935
Abstract
This review article addresses the increasing environmental concerns posed by synthetic dyes in water, exploring innovative approaches for their removal with a focus on zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVIs) synthesized through environmentally friendly methods. The article begins by highlighting the persistent nature of synthetic [...] Read more.
This review article addresses the increasing environmental concerns posed by synthetic dyes in water, exploring innovative approaches for their removal with a focus on zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVIs) synthesized through environmentally friendly methods. The article begins by highlighting the persistent nature of synthetic dyes and the limitations of conventional degradation processes. The role of nanoparticles in environmental applications is then discussed, covering diverse methods for metallic nanoparticle production aligned with green chemistry principles. Various methods, including the incorporation of secondary metals, surface coating, emulsification, fixed support, encapsulation, and electrostatic stabilization, are detailed in relation to the stabilization of nZVIs. A novel aspect is introduced in the use of plant extract or biomimetic approaches for chemical reduction during nZVI synthesis. The review investigates the specific challenges posed by dye pollution in wastewater from industrial sources, particularly in the context of garment coloring. Current approaches for dye removal in aqueous environments are discussed, with an emphasis on the effectiveness of green-synthesized nZVIs. The article concludes by offering insights into future perspectives and challenges in the field. The intricate landscape of environmentally friendly nZVI synthesis has been presented, showcasing its potential as a sustainable solution for addressing dye pollution in water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights on Wastewater Treatment Processes for Sustainable Removal of Emerging Contaminants)
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