Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.6
4.0
Journals
Catalysts
Special Issues
Innovative Catalytic and Photocatalytic Systems for Environmental Remediation, 2nd Edition
share announcement

Innovative Catalytic and Photocatalytic Systems for Environmental Remediation, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2849

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Olga Sacco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry and Biology "A.Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Interests: synthesis and characterization of catalytic materials; phosphor-based nanomaterials; nanostructured photocatalysts and supports; photocatalysis for the removal of pollutants from water and wastewater; membrane separation processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vincenzo Vaiano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering, University Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo 2 132, I-84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
Interests: photocatalysis for sustainable chemistry; photocatalytic and photo-Fenton processes for pollutants removal in wastewater; catalytic combustion of sewage sludge; decomposition and oxidative decomposition of H2S; hydrolysis of COS in the liquid phase
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Antonietta Mancuso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering, University Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo 2 132, I-84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
Interests: preparation and characterization of nanophotocatalysts for environmental remediation and organic synthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This is the second edition of the Special Issue titled “Innovative Catalytic and Photocatalytic Systems for Environmental Remediation”. In this new edition, we will continue to showcase the latest advancements in catalytic and photocatalytic methods and systems for environmental remediation. We welcome research papers and comprehensive review articles that focus on the synthesis and characterization of novel nanomaterials or nanocomposites, as well as their applications in the catalytic removal of pollutants from liquid and gaseous phases. Additionally, we invite submissions on innovative structured catalysts designed for various applications in this Special Issue.

Dr. Olga Sacco
Dr. Vincenzo Vaiano
Dr. Antonietta Mancuso
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. Catalysts 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 2200 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

  • nanomaterials
  • zero-valent iron (ZVI)
  • nanostructured photocatalysts
  • heterostructures
  • structured catalysts
  • water and wastewater treatment
  • gaseous stream treatment

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.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 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

14 pages, 2664 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effects of UV Radiation and H2O2 on Chloramphenicol Degradation by REE-Based Catalysts
by Alice Cardito, Mariateresa Lettieri, Lorenzo Saviano, Olga Sacco, Giusy Lofrano, Vincenzo Vaiano, Giovanni Libralato, Marco Guida and Maurizio Carotenuto
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080776 - 14 Aug 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
The persistent occurrence of antibiotics like chloramphenicol (CAP) in aquatic systems poses serious environmental and public health risks. This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of CAP using cerium oxide (CeO2), lanthanum oxide (La2O3), and lanthanum-doped cerium oxide [...] Read more.
The persistent occurrence of antibiotics like chloramphenicol (CAP) in aquatic systems poses serious environmental and public health risks. This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of CAP using cerium oxide (CeO2), lanthanum oxide (La2O3), and lanthanum-doped cerium oxide (CexLayO2−δ), synthesized via co-precipitation. The catalysts were tested under a solar simulator, UV-A, and UV-C radiation, both with and without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Structural characterization confirmed successful synthesis of nanometric catalysts, with La doping causing lattice expansion in CeO2 and a reduction in crystallite size (from 27 nm in CeO2 to ~20 nm in doped samples). Photolysis alone achieved limited CAP removal (~34–35%), while photocatalysis with La2O3 under UV-A and UV-C improved removal up to 58% and 55%, respectively. Complete degradation was obtained with La2O3 under UV-C in the presence of H2O2 within 15 min. Pareto analysis highlighted the dominant effect of the interaction between radiation and H2O2 (43%), while the catalyst type contributed minimally (0.23%). These findings confirm the potential of REE oxides, especially La2O3, in advanced oxidation processes and underscore the importance of light source and radical generation over catalyst selection alone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Catalytic and Photocatalytic Systems for Environmental Remediation, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 3789 KiB  
Article
Rhizobium’s Reductase for Chromium Detoxification, Heavy Metal Resistance, and Artificial Neural Network-Based Predictive Modeling
by Mohammad Oves, Majed Ahmed Al-Shaeri, Huda A. Qari and Mohd Shahnawaz Khan
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080726 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 375
Abstract
This study analyzed the heavy metal tolerance and chromium reduction and the potential of plant growth to promote Rhizobium sp. OS-1. By genetic makeup, the Rhizobium strain is nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing in metal-contaminated agricultural soil. Among the Rhizobium group, bacterial strain OS-1 showed [...] Read more.
This study analyzed the heavy metal tolerance and chromium reduction and the potential of plant growth to promote Rhizobium sp. OS-1. By genetic makeup, the Rhizobium strain is nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing in metal-contaminated agricultural soil. Among the Rhizobium group, bacterial strain OS-1 showed a significant tolerance to heavy metals, particularly chromium (900 µg/mL), zinc (700 µg/mL), and copper. In the initial investigation, the bacteria strains were morphologically short-rod, Gram-negative, appeared as light pink colonies on media plates, and were biochemically positive for catalase reaction and the ability to ferment glucose, sucrose, and mannitol. Further, bacterial genomic DNA was isolated and amplified with the 16SrRNA gene and sequencing; the obtained 16S rRNA sequence achieved accession no. HE663761.1 from the NCBI GenBank, and it was confirmed that the strain belongs to the Rhizobium genus by phylogenetic analysis. The strain’s performance was best for high hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] reduction at 7–8 pH and a temperature of 30 °C, resulting in a total decrease in 96 h. Additionally, the adsorption isotherm Freundlich and Langmuir models fit best for this study, revealing a large biosorption capacity, with Cr(VI) having the highest affinity. Further bacterial chromium reduction was confirmed by an enzymatic test of nitro reductase and chromate reductase activity in bacterial extract. Further, from the metal biosorption study, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was built to assess the metal reduction capability, considering the variables of pH, temperature, incubation duration, and initial metal concentration. The model attained an excellent expected accuracy (R2 > 0.90). With these features, this bacterial strain is excellent for bioremediation and use for industrial purposes and agricultural sustainability in metal-contaminated agricultural fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Catalytic and Photocatalytic Systems for Environmental Remediation, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 7478 KiB  
Article
Constructing a Ta3N5/Tubular Graphitic Carbon Nitride Van Der Waals Heterojunction for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
by Junbo Yu, Guiming Ba, Fuhong Bi, Huilin Hu, Jinhua Ye and Defa Wang
Catalysts 2025, 15(7), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15070691 - 20 Jul 2025
Viewed by 449
Abstract
Constructing a heterojunction is considered one of the most effective strategies for enhancing photocatalytic activity. Herein, we employ Ta3N5 and tubular graphitic carbon nitride (TCN) to construct a Ta3N5/TCN van der Waals heterojunction via electrostatic self-assembly [...] Read more.
Constructing a heterojunction is considered one of the most effective strategies for enhancing photocatalytic activity. Herein, we employ Ta3N5 and tubular graphitic carbon nitride (TCN) to construct a Ta3N5/TCN van der Waals heterojunction via electrostatic self-assembly for enhanced photocatalytic H2 production. SEM and TEM results show that Ta3N5 particles (~300 nm in size) are successfully anchored onto the surface of TCN. The light absorption capability of the Ta3N5/TCN heterojunction is between those of Ta3N5 and TCN. The strong interaction between Ta3N5 and TCN with different energy structures (Fermi levels) by van der Waals force renders the formation of an interfacial electric field to drive the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers in the Ta3N5/TCN heterojunction, as evidenced by the photoluminescence (PL) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) characterization results. Consequently, the optimal Ta3N5/TCN heterojunction exhibits a remarkable H2 production rate of 12.73 mmol g−1 h−1 under visible light irradiation, which is 3.3 and 16.8 times those of TCN and Ta3N5, respectively. Meanwhile, the cyclic experiment demonstrates excellent stability of the Ta3N5/TCN heterojunction upon photocatalytic reaction. Notably, the photocatalytic performance of 15-TaN/TCN outperforms the most previously reported CN-based and Ta3N5-based heterojunctions for H2 production. This work provides a new avenue for the rational design of CN-based van der Waals heterojunction photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Catalytic and Photocatalytic Systems for Environmental Remediation, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 935 KiB  
Article
Plasmon-Driven Catalytic Inhibition of pATP Oxidation as a Mechanism for Indirect Fe²⁺ Detection on a SERS-Active Platform
by Alexandru-Milentie Hada, Mihail-Mihnea Moruz, Alexandru Holca, Simion Astilean, Marc Lamy de la Chapelle and Monica Focsan
Catalysts 2025, 15(7), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15070667 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 592
Abstract
The detection of Fe2+ in environmental water sources is critical due to its biological relevance and potential toxicity at elevated levels. Herein, we report a plasmon-driven catalytic sensing nanoplatform based on p-aminothiophenol (pATP)-functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the selective and sensitive detection [...] Read more.
The detection of Fe2+ in environmental water sources is critical due to its biological relevance and potential toxicity at elevated levels. Herein, we report a plasmon-driven catalytic sensing nanoplatform based on p-aminothiophenol (pATP)-functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the selective and sensitive detection of Fe2+. The nanoplatform exploits the inhibition of the plasmon-driven catalytic conversion of pATP to 4,4-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB), monitored via surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The catalytic efficiency was quantified by the intensity ratio between the formed DMAB-specific Raman band and the common aromatic ring vibration band of pATP and DMAB. This ratio decreased proportionally with increasing Fe2+ concentration over a range of 100 µM to 1.5 mM, with a calculated limit of detection of 39.7 µM. High selectivity was demonstrated against common metal ions, and excellent recovery rates (96.6–99.4%) were obtained in real water samples. Mechanistic insights, supported by chronopotentiometric measurements under light irradiation, revealed a competitive oxidation pathway in which Fe2+ preferentially consumes plasmon-generated hot holes over pATP. This mechanism clarifies the observed catalytic inhibition and supports the design of redox-responsive SERS sensors. The platform offers a rapid, low-cost, and portable solution for Fe2+ monitoring and holds promise for broader applications in detecting other redox-active analytes in complex environmental matrices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Catalytic and Photocatalytic Systems for Environmental Remediation, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

29 pages, 16013 KiB  
Review
Supramolecular Perylene Diimides for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
by Long Tian, Qing Meng, Wenjie Zhou, Bang Hu, Zichun Jiang, Yulong Cai, Xiaoguang Liu and Yingzhi Chen
Catalysts 2025, 15(5), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15050463 - 8 May 2025
Viewed by 890
Abstract
Energy depletion and environmental pollution have emerged as pressing global concerns, demanding the urgent promotion of green and clean energy sources. As such, the efficient utilization of solar energy for hydrogen production has gained significant research attention, with semiconductor photocatalysis emerging as an [...] Read more.
Energy depletion and environmental pollution have emerged as pressing global concerns, demanding the urgent promotion of green and clean energy sources. As such, the efficient utilization of solar energy for hydrogen production has gained significant research attention, with semiconductor photocatalysis emerging as an effective strategy. However, harnessing the full potential of semiconductor photocatalysis still poses great challenges. Notably, the limited utilization of visible light and the substantial recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs adversely affect photocatalytic performance, ultimately impeding the further development and practical application of semiconductor photocatalysis. Perylene diimide (PDI), an n-type semiconductor distinguished by its conjugated π-π bonds, exhibits remarkable photoelectric properties. Its energy band gap falls within the absorption range of visible light, ensuring remarkable light absorption efficiency. Furthermore, the photogenerated charge can be efficiently conducted along the π-π stacking in its structural unit, significantly reducing electron–hole recombination. Consequently, PDI holds immense potential for achieving visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production. Yet, despite these attributes, the photocatalytic efficiency of pure PDI is still far from practical use, necessitating innovative modifications to elevate its catalytic performance. In this review, we begin with an in-depth exploration of the principles underlying photocatalytic hydrogen production and discuss various strategies aimed at enhancing photocatalytic performance. We also engage in a comprehensive discussion and summation of the challenges encountered and the future prospects of PDI-based materials. Our endeavor is to pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in the field of photocatalysis, ultimately contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Catalytic and Photocatalytic Systems for Environmental Remediation, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop