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Environmental Pollution and Wastewater Treatment Strategies
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Environmental Pollution and Wastewater Treatment Strategies

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 4899

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Robert Kowalik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Kielce University of Technology, 25-314 Kielce, Poland
Interests: flat-plate solar collectors; optical and thermal modeling of solar thermal systems; solar tracking strategies; building-integrated solar energy technologies; energy efficiency in buildings; climate-responsive solar design; experimental validation and CFD simulation; optimization of solar thermal system performance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mária Kaňuchová

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Kosice, Košice, Slovakia
Interests: wastewater treatment; sewage sludge; water pollution; heavy metals; soil science; soil pollution; microplastic in environment; materials; material characterization; bentonite; potentially toxic metals; radionuclides; geopolymers; mortar; fly ash; materials science; cryogenics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the face of the global water crisis, water pollution has emerged as one of the most critical environmental challenges we must address. The treatment of municipal wastewater plays a vital role in minimizing the impact of pollutants on aquatic ecosystems and public health. These pollutants, including chemical substances, microorganisms, heavy metals, and microplastics, can lead to serious health risks such as gastrointestinal, hormonal, and immune system disorders, as well as environmental degradation.

The primary objective of wastewater treatment is to remove these contaminants before the water is discharged back into the environment. Properly treated wastewater can be reused for various purposes, contributing to sustainable water resource management and environmental protection. In light of increasing environmental protection demands and stricter water quality regulations, it is essential to implement advanced and innovative wastewater treatment technologies that effectively reduce pollution levels.

The issue of pollution in wastewater is particularly significant because uncontrolled discharge into the environment can lead to the eutrophication of water bodies, the disruption of ecosystems, and the spread of pathogens. Moreover, the presence of chemical substances, such as pharmaceuticals and household chemicals, poses severe threats to aquatic flora and fauna and human health through bioaccumulation in the food chain.

This Special Issue aims to gather knowledge on the latest advancements in technologies for municipal wastewater and sludge treatment that effectively remove contaminants. We are seeking scientific articles that analyze innovative methods and technologies for wastewater treatment, evaluate their impact on pollution reduction, and discuss risk management associated with contaminants in wastewater.

Dr. Robert Kowalik
Dr. Mária Kaňuchová
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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences 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

  • advanced wastewater technology
  • natural wastewater treatment system
  • biological treatment and physicochemical treatment
  • wastewater quality
  • wastewater treatment and health
  • sewage sludge treatment and disposal
  • hormones in water and wastewater
  • water reuse
  • resource recovery
  • municipal wastewater
  • wastewater reuse

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 545 KB  
Article
Environmental Risks of Talc Mining
by Henrieta Pavolová, Mária Kaňuchová, Tomáš Bakalár, Ľubica Kozáková and Edyta Nartowska
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 2317; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16052317 - 27 Feb 2026
Viewed by 446
Abstract
This study examines the environmental risks associated with talc mining in Slovakia, focusing on various aspects. It applies a structured risk assessment methodology to evaluate the probability and severity of environmental impacts stemming from talc extraction, flotation, and tailings pond operations. Key stressors [...] Read more.
This study examines the environmental risks associated with talc mining in Slovakia, focusing on various aspects. It applies a structured risk assessment methodology to evaluate the probability and severity of environmental impacts stemming from talc extraction, flotation, and tailings pond operations. Key stressors include chemical pollutants such as oils, diesel, and flotation reagents, as well as physical disruptions like georelief alteration and vegetation loss. The findings highlight high environmental risks from technical infrastructure leaks and tailings pond operations, particularly regarding groundwater contamination and landscape modification. Moderate risks were identified in diesel and oil substance leakage, while flotation processes posed minimal risk. The research underscores the need for improved risk mitigation strategies, such as enhanced monitoring and containment systems, to protect local ecosystems and water resources. The study contributes to a better understanding of the long-term environmental impacts of mineral resource exploitation and provides a foundation for more sustainable mining practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution and Wastewater Treatment Strategies)
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20 pages, 1205 KB  
Article
Electro-Fenton Degradation of Carbamazepine: H2O2 Production and Energy Demand Comparison with Fenton Oxidation
by Abed-Alhakeem Azaiza, Raphael Semiat and Hilla Shemer
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 2203; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16052203 - 25 Feb 2026
Viewed by 352
Abstract
The electro-Fenton (EF) process is a promising advanced oxidation technology for the removal of micropollutants (MPs) from wastewater. This study aimed to identify energy-efficient operating conditions for H2O2 electro-production and EF degradation of the neutral micropollutant carbamazepine (CBZ). The effects [...] Read more.
The electro-Fenton (EF) process is a promising advanced oxidation technology for the removal of micropollutants (MPs) from wastewater. This study aimed to identify energy-efficient operating conditions for H2O2 electro-production and EF degradation of the neutral micropollutant carbamazepine (CBZ). The effects of current density, residence time (RT), Reynolds number, pH, and temperature were evaluated, and non-EF removal pathways and flow-configuration effects were quantified. H2O2 production was maximized under conditions that sustained current efficiencies ≥ 50%, corresponding to specific energy consumption of 4.0–6.4 kWh/kg H2O2. Non-EF removal mechanisms intrinsic to the divided electrolytic cell accounted for approximately 35% of total CBZ removal at an RT of 5 min. Under energy-efficient EF conditions (25:1 H2O2:Fe2+ and 5 min RT), CBZ removal efficiency reached 95%. Asymmetric flow configurations reduced apparent removal through dilution. In contrast, directing the cathode effluent through the anode enhanced oxidation and reduced treated water volume without additional energy input. Total electrical energy per order of CBZ removal from secondary effluent for EF (73.8–94.4 kWh/m3) was comparable to that of Fenton oxidation (61.1–100.0 kWh/m3). In both processes, H2O2 production dominated the energy demand. The results highlight EF as a feasible, energy-competitive option for removing persistent MPs from wastewater effluents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution and Wastewater Treatment Strategies)
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26 pages, 3363 KB  
Article
Energy-Efficient Coaxial Electrocoagulation for Integrated Treatment of Urban Wastewater and Acid Mine Drainage: A Response-Surface Approach
by Katherin Quispe-Ramos, Edilberto Melgar-Izaguirre, José Rivera-Rodríguez, César Gutiérrez-Cuba, Luis Carrasco-Venegas, Cesar Rodriguez-Aburto, Yone Ramos-Balcázar and Alex Pilco-Nuñez
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(19), 10452; https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910452 - 26 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1592
Abstract
This study determined the influence of experimental factors such as current density, surface-to-volume ratio (S/V), and contact time on the removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and energy consumption during electrocoagulation, aiming to optimize the efficiency of a coaxial electrocoagulator for the co-treatment [...] Read more.
This study determined the influence of experimental factors such as current density, surface-to-volume ratio (S/V), and contact time on the removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and energy consumption during electrocoagulation, aiming to optimize the efficiency of a coaxial electrocoagulator for the co-treatment of municipal wastewater and acid mine drainage. After identifying the optimal volumetric ratio between both types of effluents, a Box–Behnken design and response-surface methodology were employed to identify the conditions that maximize COD removal while minimizing energy consumption. Under optimal conditions (current density of 2.42 A·m−2, S/V = 300 m2·m−3, 60 min), a COD removal of 91.13% was achieved with a specific energy of =2.59 kWh·kgCOD−1. The statistical model for COD removal demonstrated a good fit (R2 = 0.87), though its predictive power was limited (predicted R2 = 0.53). In contrast, the model for energy consumption exhibited an outstanding fit (R2 = 0.99) and high predictive consistency (predicted R2 = 0.98), confirming the decisive influence of current density on energy demand. Additionally, the S/V ratio emerged as the most impactful factor in COD removal variability. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of balancing removal efficiency with the economic feasibility of the process, contributing to the design of more sustainable and effective strategies for integrated wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution and Wastewater Treatment Strategies)
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15 pages, 6946 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Two-Stage Backwashing on Membrane Bioreactor Biofouling Using cis-2-Decenoic Acid and Sodium Hypochlorite
by Sungjin Park, Wonjung Song, Chehyeun Kim, Zikang Jiang, Jiwon Han and Jihyang Kweon
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020874 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1945
Abstract
Biofouling in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) is a bottleneck in operation. This study explores the use of cis-2-decenoic acid (CDA) to mitigate biofouling. CDA is a signaling molecule known to disperse biofilms, which is reported to reduce the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) [...] Read more.
Biofouling in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) is a bottleneck in operation. This study explores the use of cis-2-decenoic acid (CDA) to mitigate biofouling. CDA is a signaling molecule known to disperse biofilms, which is reported to reduce the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of biofilms and make them less chemically resistant. In our experiments, CDA 300 nM was used for the backwashing biofouling in MBR, and backwashing with CDA followed by 0 to 500 mg/L sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was also performed. The synergistic effect of CDA and NaOCl in alleviating biofouling was observed at CDA 300 nM and 100 mg/L NaOCl. However, controversial phenomena occurred under other conditions. An increase in biofilm removal efficiency with higher concentrations of NaOCl was not observed. Instead, the fouling rate increased at a 200 mg/L NaOCl condition compared to the control condition (i.e., DW washing). This phenomenon is hypothesized to result from the antagonistic interaction between the dispersion induction by CDA and the stress induced by NaOCl. This study specifically demonstrated the efficiency of two-stage backwashing with CDA and NaOCl in various aspects. The results of this study are expected to be utilized for optimizing MBR backwashing protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Pollution and Wastewater Treatment Strategies)
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