Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.0
3.7
Journals
ChemEngineering
Special Issues
Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment
share announcement

Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment

A Special Issue of ChemEngineering (ISSN 2305-7084).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 12334

Editors

Dr. Maria Isabel San Martín Becares

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological Molecules, University of León, 24004 León, Spain
Interests: environmental science; biochemistry; chemical engineering
Dr. Raúl M. Alonso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical Engineering and Automatic Systems, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
Interests: engineering; bioelectrochemical; wastewater treatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The escalating global challenges of water scarcity and environmental pollution underscore the critical importance of advancing wastewater treatment technologies. This Special Issue, "Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment", aims to gather cutting-edge research that integrates chemical engineering principles with innovative wastewater treatment methodologies. We are pleased to invite you to contribute original research and review articles that address this vital area.

This Special Issue aligns perfectly with the journal's scope, focusing on the application of chemical engineering to solve environmental problems, particularly in water resource management.

To ensure a focused yet comprehensive collection, we encourage submissions exploring themes such as (but are not limited to):

  • Advanced oxidation processes
  • Membrane separation technologies
  • Bioremediation
  • Resource recovery from wastewater
  • Process optimization using computational modeling
  • Bioelectrochemical systems

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions that will drive progress in sustainable wastewater management.

Dr. Maria Isabel San Martín Becares
Dr. Raúl M. Alonso
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. ChemEngineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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
  • chemical engineering
  • membrane separation
  • bioremediation
  • advanced oxidation process
  • resource recovery
  • computational modeling
  • bioelectrochemical systems

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 (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 1635 KB  
Article
Investigation into the Use of Waste Polystyrene as an Adsorbent for Phenolic Wastewater in Oil Refineries
by Anca Iuliana Dumitru, Cristina Busuioc, Claudia Irina Koncsag and Olga Valerica Săpunaru
ChemEngineering 2026, 10(9), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering10090107 - 26 Aug 2026
Viewed by 210
Abstract
Waste polystyrene is a burden for the economy, especially when it spreads in environment due to incorrect waste management. In addition, there are toxic pollutants which should not end up in the natural environment. A good way to tackle these problems is to [...] Read more.
Waste polystyrene is a burden for the economy, especially when it spreads in environment due to incorrect waste management. In addition, there are toxic pollutants which should not end up in the natural environment. A good way to tackle these problems is to consider recycling polystyrene, through chemical transformation, into an adsorbent for pollutants. This study considers waste polystyrene (PS) and the materials synthetized from it as adsorbents for removal of the pollutant phenol. Dichloroethane polystyrene (DCEPS) and tetrachloromethane polystyrene (TCMPS) were synthesized in the laboratory by crosslinking polystyrene with dichloroethane and tetrachloromethane, using a Friedel–Crafts reaction. The materials were characterized by FTIR to observe the structural modifications induced by crosslinking. Then, the materials were compared for their adsorption capacity at 300 K. The experimental data proved that, for an initial concentration of phenol in water of 517 mg/L, the adsorption capacity is moderate and increases in the following order: PS (13.4 mg phenol/g) < TCMPS (15.7 mg phenol/g) < DCEPS (19.1 mg phenol/g). The adsorption isotherms at 300 K were determined for a large range of concentrations, and the parameters of Freundlich and Langmuir models were calculated, concluding that the Langmuir model fits better. The kinetics were studied and are represented by a pseudo-first order equation, confirmed by high coefficients of determination for all three materials. The adsorption of phenol from an industrial wastewater flux was performed in continuous flow over a laboratory column. PS and DCEPS were tested, with good results. For example, 1.595 L water containing 22 mg phenol/L was adsorbed on 3.76 g DCEPS; the bed capacity in equilibrium with the wastewater is 10 mg/g adsorbent, the removal efficiency was 95% for a treated volume of 1.595 mL, the breakthrough time was 240 min, and the exhaustion time was 270 min. The novelty of the work consists in demonstrating the possibility of applying polystyrene-based materials as adsorbents for the treatment of phenolic wastewater proceeding from oil refineries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1312 KB  
Article
Hydrogeochemical Assessment of Lithium in Oilfield Formation Waters of the Mangystau Region, Kazakhstan: Distribution, Geochemical Controls, and Preliminary Resource Evaluation
by Assiya Boranbayeva and Akmaral Serikbayeva
ChemEngineering 2026, 10(7), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering10070088 - 8 Jul 2026
Viewed by 394
Abstract
This study presents a hydrogeochemical assessment of oilfield formation waters from the Karazhanbas, Zhetybay, and Uzen oil fields in the Mangystau Region of Kazakhstan, with the aim of elucidating lithium distribution, identifying the geochemical factors controlling its accumulation, and providing a preliminary resource-oriented [...] Read more.
This study presents a hydrogeochemical assessment of oilfield formation waters from the Karazhanbas, Zhetybay, and Uzen oil fields in the Mangystau Region of Kazakhstan, with the aim of elucidating lithium distribution, identifying the geochemical factors controlling its accumulation, and providing a preliminary resource-oriented evaluation. The study investigated pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), ionic–salt composition, lithium (Li) concentration, and the relationships between Li, TDS, major cations, and geochemical ratios, including Ca/Li and Mg/Li. Major ions were determined using standard hydrochemical methods, while Li was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The investigated waters were predominantly classified as chloride–calcium type according to their hydrochemical composition. In terms of TDS, the waters follow the sequence Uzen > Zhetybay > Karazhanbas, whereas Li concentrations follow the sequence Zhetybay > Uzen > Karazhanbas. The highest Li concentrations were detected in Zhetybay waters (1.40–1.85 mg/dm3); in Uzen waters, Li reached 1.51 mg/dm3; and in Karazhanbas waters, it ranged from 0.30 to 0.70 mg/dm3. The highest Mg/Li and (Na+ + K+)/Li ratios were characteristic of Uzen waters, indicating a more complex salt matrix. Compared with internationally reported lithium-enriched brines, the Mangystau formation waters contain relatively low Li concentrations and cannot currently be considered a commercially viable lithium source. The scientific significance of this study lies in establishing a regional hydrogeochemical baseline for oilfield formation waters and demonstrating that maximum mineralization does not necessarily correspond to the highest Li concentration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 2451 KB  
Article
Calculation, Measurement and Validation for Estimating the Biomass of the Biofilm on Microcarriers
by Tamás Kloknicer, Gergő Bálint Sárfi, Dániel Benjámin Sándor and Anita Szabó
ChemEngineering 2026, 10(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering10020023 - 2 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1324
Abstract
Traditional carriers play a major role in wastewater treatment worldwide due to their reliability, ease of production, well-established analytical methods, and strong treatment performance. Recent studies indicate that polyvinyl-alcohol-based microcarriers may surpass conventional media, as their smaller size, higher porosity, and increased specific [...] Read more.
Traditional carriers play a major role in wastewater treatment worldwide due to their reliability, ease of production, well-established analytical methods, and strong treatment performance. Recent studies indicate that polyvinyl-alcohol-based microcarriers may surpass conventional media, as their smaller size, higher porosity, and increased specific surface area enable them to retain substantially more biomass within reactors. However, their practical application remains limited because fewer analytical methods and studies exist for these materials, largely due to their small dimensions and heat sensitivity, and their behaviour under industrial conditions—including their kinetics—has yet to be fully characterised and validated. This study aims to address these gaps by reviewing existing biomass measurement standards and highlighting their limitations when applied to microcarriers and by proposing alternative experimental approaches better suited for evaluating biomass on such sensitive yet high-capacity carriers. We present a set of experimental methods (still subject to further refinement) that demonstrate reliable performance with these materials, and to validate our approach, we quantified biomass in both in vitro systems and containerised-scale technologies, reaching up to 14 kg/m3 during winter and 8.7 kg/m3 in spring. Laboratory-scale experiments showed that both heterotrophic and autotrophic cultures can achieve high biomass levels of up to 21 kg/m3 and 16 kg/m3, respectively. Heterotrophs exhibited lower growth inhibition under shear stress, while autotrophs displayed a distinct shear-force niche around 0.09 µN within the reactor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1948 KB  
Article
Advanced Oxidation of PET-Derived Monomers Using Excimer Radiation and Hydrogen Peroxide: Kinetic and Operational Insights
by María Gómez, María Claudia Montiel, Elisa Gómez, Asunción María Hidalgo, Fuensanta Máximo and María Dolores Murcia
ChemEngineering 2026, 10(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering10020019 - 29 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1418
Abstract
Growing environmental concern over plastic pollution has increased the need to address the persistence of PET-derived monomers, such as bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and terephthalic acid (TPA). This work examines the use of excimer radiation lamps combined with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 [...] Read more.
Growing environmental concern over plastic pollution has increased the need to address the persistence of PET-derived monomers, such as bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and terephthalic acid (TPA). This work examines the use of excimer radiation lamps combined with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to enhance advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for their degradation. This approach stands out for its high selectivity, absence of mercury, and lower production of toxic byproducts. Experimental tests assessed how different operational factors affect pollutant degradation, such as the initial pollutant concentration (50–200 mg/L), the reaction volume (125–500 mL), and the H2O2:monomer mass ratio (0:1–6:1 for BHET and 0:1–4:1 for TPA). For BHET, the best results occurred with a 5:1 mass ratio, while TPA degraded optimally with a 3:1 ratio, with a 250 mL reaction volume and a 100 mg/L initial concentration for both compounds. Under these conditions, total degradation of the initial monomers was achieved in around 30 and 80 min for BHET and TPA, respectively, and at the end of the reaction, COD decreased by 46% and 32% relative to their initial values. In both cases, hydrogen peroxide was crucial since UV radiation alone led to much lower degradation efficiency. These results emphasize the need to optimize operational conditions for greater efficiency and establish a starting point for future use of excimer technology in the treatment of wastewater contaminated with PET and its derivatives. Additionally, the degradation data closely matched a pseudo-first-order kinetic model (R2 ≈ 1), confirming its reliability for predictive analysis, which is of high importance for the simulation and optimization of the process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1141 KB  
Article
A Practical Approach for Measuring Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Using Tween 80 in Wastewater
by Naveed Ahmed and Andrea Straub
ChemEngineering 2025, 9(6), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering9060138 - 5 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2145
Abstract
This study aims to estimate the organic load of oily wastewater by using Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) measurements, addressing the analytical challenges posed by the hydrophobic, nonpolar, and often emulsified nature of Fats, oil and grease (FOG). This study established a reproducible and [...] Read more.
This study aims to estimate the organic load of oily wastewater by using Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) measurements, addressing the analytical challenges posed by the hydrophobic, nonpolar, and often emulsified nature of Fats, oil and grease (FOG). This study established a reproducible and practical methodology for measuring COD in wastewater containing FOG at a laboratory scale, utilizing the nonionic surfactant T80 as a solubilizing and emulsifying agent. Precise gravimetric methods were employed to measure the mass of T80 (indirectly from volume (100–1400 µL/L)) added, and its correlation with COD was established. A strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.993–0.998) between T80 concentration and COD confirmed its stability and suitability as a calibration standard. Experiments with sunflower (1–4 mL/L) and rapeseed oils (1–3 mL/L) showed that COD increased linearly with oil concentration and stabilized after prolonged mixing (96–120 h), indicating complete emulsification and micellar equilibrium. Even under T80 overdose conditions, COD retained linearity (R2 > 0.99), though absolute values were elevated due to excess surfactant oxidation. Temperature variation (5 and 20 °C) and mild heating of coconut fat (30–32 °C) showed no significant effect on COD reproducibility, indicating that mixing time and surfactant dosage are the dominant factors influencing measurement accuracy. Overall, the study establishes T80 as a reliable surfactant for solubilizing oily matrices, providing a consistent and repeatable approach for COD assessment of wastewater containing FOG. The proposed method offers a practical basis and a step towards environmental monitoring and process control in decentralized and industrial wastewater treatment systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 3132 KB  
Review
Suspension Type TiO2 Photocatalysts for Water Treatment: Magnetic TiO2/SiO2/Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Submillimeter TiO2-Polystyrene Beads
by Manabu Kiguchi and Nobuhiro Hanada
ChemEngineering 2026, 10(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering10010003 - 4 Jan 2026
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2082
Abstract
Photocatalytic degradation of organic molecules using TiO2 has attracted attention in wastewater treatment because it can decompose organic compounds that are difficult to decompose by other methods. Meanwhile, efficient photocatalytic water treatment is difficult because it is not easy to separate nano-sized [...] Read more.
Photocatalytic degradation of organic molecules using TiO2 has attracted attention in wastewater treatment because it can decompose organic compounds that are difficult to decompose by other methods. Meanwhile, efficient photocatalytic water treatment is difficult because it is not easy to separate nano-sized photocatalysts from water. In this review, we have described two approaches to solve the water separation challenge in the suspension type TiO2 photocatalysts, which are uniformly distributed in water: magnetic TiO2/SiO2/Fe3O4 nanoparticles and TiO2-polystyrene beads. The preparation, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of the two types of photocatalysts and their application are discussed. Finally, we compare two types of photocatalysts while focusing on the respective advantages and disadvantages of each, and the future direction of research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

52 pages, 2205 KB  
Review
Integrated Multi-Technology Framework for Algal Wastewater Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Biofilm Reactors, Nano-Enhancement, AI Optimization, and 3D-Printed Architectures
by Nilay Kumar Sarker and Prasad Kaparaju
ChemEngineering 2025, 9(5), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering9050111 - 15 Oct 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3492
Abstract
Conventional wastewater treatment methods typically achieve 70–90% removal efficiency for organic pollutants. However, the global wastewater crisis—with 80% of wastewater discharged untreated—demands innovative solutions to overcome persistent challenges in nutrient removal and resource recovery. This review presents the first systematic analysis of technology [...] Read more.
Conventional wastewater treatment methods typically achieve 70–90% removal efficiency for organic pollutants. However, the global wastewater crisis—with 80% of wastewater discharged untreated—demands innovative solutions to overcome persistent challenges in nutrient removal and resource recovery. This review presents the first systematic analysis of technology integration strategies for algal wastewater treatment, examining synergistic combinations of biofilm reactors, nano-enhancement, artificial intelligence, and 3D printing technologies. Individual technologies demonstrate distinct performance characteristics: algal biofilm reactors achieve 60–90% removal efficiency with biomass productivity up to 50 g/m2/day; nano-enhanced systems reach 70–99% pollutant removal; AI optimization provides 15–35% efficiency improvements with 25–35% energy reductions; and 3D-printed architectures achieve 70–90% removal efficiency. The novel integration framework reveals that technology combinations achieve 85–95% overall efficiency compared to 60–80% for individual approaches. Critical challenges include nanomaterial toxicity (silver nanoparticles effective at 10 mg/L), high costs (U.S. Dollar (USD) 50–300 per m2 for 3D components, USD 1500+ per kg for nanomaterials), and limited technological maturity (TRL 4–5 for AI and 3D printing). Priority development needs include standardized evaluation metrics, comprehensive risk assessment, and economic optimization strategies. The integration framework provides technology selection guidance based on pollutant characteristics and operational constraints, while implementation strategies address regional adaptation requirements. Findings support integrated algal systems’ potential for superior treatment performance and circular economy contributions through resource recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Chemical Engineering and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop