Advances in Catalytic Water Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

A catalyst is a compound that increases the speed of a chemical reaction and the rate of degradation of toxic compounds, regenerating itself and that can be recovered at the end of the reaction (the catalyst can be converted in nanoparticles to speed up the process). If it slows the reaction down, it is called an inhibitor. Catalysts can be divided into homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. In the homogeneous ions, there are transition metal ions (Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cr²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ag²⁺, and Zn²⁺); these can influence the reaction rate and the selectivity of the oxidation and efficiency of the use of ozone (the production of free radicals and the formation of complexes between the catalyst and the organic molecule after oxidation), for example. While heterogeneous catalysts carry out a process that has the capacity to improve the oxidation of ozone without the need to interact or generate byproducts in water treatment, the catalysts must be efficient, and they must not produce toxic byproducts, being an ecological and economical alternative, due to the easy recovery of the catalyst.

Examples of catalysis are in the treatment of water with high concentrations of lime, carbonates and/or salts (hard water), where catalysts are used to descale pipes, neutralizing the lime and calcium carbonate molecules, and converting these into independent microparticles without embedding capacity. In the purification of industrial wastewater with a high organic content through wet oxidation with heterogeneous catalysts (causing a reduction in pressure and temperature), the organic matter is oxidized and converted into CO₂ and H₂O, without the emission of NO_x, SO₂, HCl, dioxins, furans, etc., thereby achieving, among other outcomes, an effluent that complies with regulations.

Finally, photocatalysis is a POA technology that is used more every day because it improves the degradation efficiency of toxic compounds. Photocatalytic action is the redox reaction induced by light (e.g., visible or solar light) from semiconductors, where free radicals are formed, e.g., O₂^•-, OH^•, etc., that help degrade the contaminants present in the water.

This Special Issue on “Advances in Catalytic Water Treatment” intends to present novel chemistry and nano-catalyst materials for the optimization for all physiochemistry and bioprocesses treatments. Topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Catalysis in nanotechnology;
• Materials chemistry and catalysis;
• Photocatalysis and electrochemistry;
• Organocatalysis and organometallics in chemistry;
• Biocatalysis and biotransformation;
• Simulation and modeling catalysis;
• Environmental catalysis

Dr. Sofía E. Garrido Hoyos
Prof. Dr. Thangarasu Pandiyan
Guest Editors

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• catalysis
• pretreatment
• water treatment
• catalyst
• oxidation
• biocatalysis
• degradation
• toxic compounds