The Application of Biopolymer Composite in Water Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

The industrial development of humanity brings not only beneficial aspects but also a negative impact due to the pollution of soil, air, and water.

This reality has put a new task in front of the science and engineering industries: that of solving increasing pollution. In this direction, a lot of modern researchers are devoted to fighting the water pollution, and new materials are developed for this. The rational design of these new materials is essential because the wrong material can introduce secondary pollution alongside the treated material at the end of life. So, the materials used for water treatment should posses biocompatibility and biodegradability, and, obviously, the most appropriate materials are biopolymers. Moreover, biopolymers avoid the use of fossil fuels, which are in depletion. As a result, many materials for water treatment are based on biopolymers, such as chitosan, alginate, and biocellulose, among others, and especially on biopolymer composites, which show enhanced mechanical and physical–chemical properties. Because water treatment procedures are based on surface processes which take place at the interface of a material with water, articles with a high specific surface are preferred, such as fibers, membranes, or hydrogels.

The research in this field is developing very quickly, highlighting the need for this Special Issue of Applied Science. We invite you to publish your work in this Special Issue and we look forward to your contributions

Prof. Dr. Andrei Sarbu
Prof. Dr. Anita-Laura Chiriac
Dr. Anamaria Zaharia
Guest Editors

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