Photocatalyzed and Electrochemical Processes for a Cleaner Environment, 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 3098

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Joint Center for Research on Sustainable Chemistry UAEM-UNAM, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, Toluca 50200, Mexico
Interests: environment remediation through removal of pollutants, valorization of residues and renewable fuels production, via photochemical and electrochemical means, and their life cycle assessment
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Chemical Engineering Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Interests: wastewater treatment; water conditioning; advanced oxidation and reduction processes; process intensification; photocatalysis; electrooxidation; microwave-assisted processes
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Guest Editor
Centro Conjunto de Investigación en Química Sustentable (CCIQS) UAEM-UNAM, Carretera Toluca-Atlacomulco, Km 14.5, Toluca 50200, Estado de México, Mexico
Interests: water recovery; electrochemical advanced oxidation processes; electrocoagulation; photo-electrochemical

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Guest Editor
Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA-Legaria, Legaria 694, Col. Irrigación, Ciudad de México 11500, México
Interests: photocatalysts; catalysts; nanomaterials; semiconductors; fuels; hydrogen; water splitting; water remediation; energy; air remediation

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Guest Editor
Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760032, Colombia
Interests: catalyst; photocatalysts; photocatalysis; heterogeneous catalysis; catalyst characterization; catalyst synthesis; oxidation; photodegradation; advanced oxidation processes
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Around the globe, the natural environment has been deteriorating due to, among other factors, human activities (food, pharmaceutical and fuel production, waste management, travel, communications, etc.). The actions required to remediate such a phenomenon can be classified into two large groups: preventive and corrective. For both groups, photocatalyzed and electrochemical processes emerge as promising alternatives and, therefore, are worthy of being assessed to increase their number of applications. In the context of prevention, these processes allow us, for instance, to conduct selective partial oxidations or reductions under mild temperature and pressure conditions. Such processes can also be applied to remediate air, water, and soil. Therefore, this Special Issue, ‘Photocatalyzed and Electrochemical Processes for a Cleaner Environment, 2nd Edition’, is dedicated to addressing topics related to the following:

  • Wastewater valorization through photocatalyzed and electrochemical methods;
  • E-fuels;
  • Development of novel photocatalysts and electrodes;
  • Photocatalyzed and electrochemical advanced oxidation processes, i.e., photocatalysis, elctrocatalysis, electro-oxidation, electroperoxonation, electrocoagulation, photo-Fenton, electro-Fenton, and photo-electrocatalysis;
  • Reduction processes, i.e., CO2 conversion through photocatalyzed and/or electrochemical processes;
  • Selective photocatalyzed or photo-electrocatalyzed oxidations;
  • Fuels production through photocatalyzed and/or electrochemical processes;
  • Integration of photocatalyzed processes with others (adsorption, biological, ozone, electrochemical, and persulfate) for pollutant removal;
  • Plasmonic photocatalysis;
  • Water splitting;
  • Photoelectrochemical cells;
  • Photocatalysis–biocatalysis hybrid systems;
  • Electrochemical–biological cells;
  • Valorization of residues through photocatalyzed and/or electrochemical processes;
  • Life cycle assessment of photocatalyzed and/or electrochemical processes;
  • Scaling-up and optimization of photocatalyzed and/or electrochemical processes;
  • Mechanistic insights and computational studies on photocatalyzed and/or electrochemical processes.

Dr. Reyna Natividad
Dr. Alicia L. Garcia-Costa
Dr. Gabriela Roa-Morales
Dr. Ángeles Mantilla
Prof. Dr. Fiderman Machuca-Martínez
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • photocatalysis
  • electrocatalysis
  • advanced oxidation processes
  • photo-Fenton
  • electro-Fenton
  • water splitting
  • CO2 reduction
  • electrochemical cells
  • photoelectrochemical cells (PECs)
  • photocatalysts development
  • plasmonic photocatalysis
  • life cycle assessment (LCA)
  • electrorefinery
  • electrocoagulation
  • hydrogen production
  • green hydrogen
  • E-fuels
  • photoreactors

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2876 KB  
Article
UV-A LED Assisted Persulfate and Fenton Process for Efficient Sucralose Oxidation
by Alyson R. Ribeiro, Jose A. Casas, Juan A. Zazo and Jefferson E. Silveira
Catalysts 2026, 16(5), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16050414 - 2 May 2026
Viewed by 139
Abstract
This study investigates a combined advanced oxidation process (AOP) utilizing UVA-LED irradiation (365 nm) for the degradation of sucralose (SUC), a complex artificial sweetener that poses a challenge for wastewater treatment due to its resistance to conventional methods. A sequential treatment strategy was [...] Read more.
This study investigates a combined advanced oxidation process (AOP) utilizing UVA-LED irradiation (365 nm) for the degradation of sucralose (SUC), a complex artificial sweetener that poses a challenge for wastewater treatment due to its resistance to conventional methods. A sequential treatment strategy was employed. The initial step utilized UVA-activated persulfate (PS) at varying dosages (0.12–0.5 g/L) and UVA fluence rate (ranging from 20 to 100% of nominal output). The influence of natural water components (bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate) on PS activation was systematically analyzed. Notably, the substantial pH decrease during oxidation opened the possibility of replacing an amount of PS with the less expensive and more environmentally friendly hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the subsequent Fenton reaction. This second step employed a stoichiometric dosage of H2O2 (2.12 g/g COD) and varying Fe2+ concentrations (0.05–0.2 g/L), achieving a 95% overall mineralization within 60 min. The combined process incurred an approximate cost of 2.5€ per m3. This research contributes to the development of more effective and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment strategies for emerging contaminants. Full article
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Review

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23 pages, 1255 KB  
Review
Solar-Driven Catalytic Wastewater Treatment: A Unified Photonic–Thermal Framework for Advanced Oxidation and Disinfection Mechanisms
by Carlos E. Barrera-Díaz, Bernardo A. Frontana-Uribe, Gabriela Roa-Morales, Patricia Balderas-Hernández and Pedro Avila-Pérez
Catalysts 2026, 16(4), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16040341 - 10 Apr 2026
Viewed by 613
Abstract
Increasing water demand and the rising complexity of wastewater matrices, driven by pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and recalcitrant industrial contaminants, require advanced catalytic solutions capable of efficient mineralization under sustainable conditions. Solar-driven processes have attracted growing attention; however, ultraviolet disinfection, heterogeneous photocatalysis, and [...] Read more.
Increasing water demand and the rising complexity of wastewater matrices, driven by pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and recalcitrant industrial contaminants, require advanced catalytic solutions capable of efficient mineralization under sustainable conditions. Solar-driven processes have attracted growing attention; however, ultraviolet disinfection, heterogeneous photocatalysis, and photo-Fenton systems are commonly treated as independent approaches without mechanistic integration. This review presents a unified photonic–thermal catalytic framework for solar-driven wastewater treatment, emphasizing the interplay between photon absorption, charge-carrier separation, reactive oxygen species generation, and radical-mediated oxidation pathways. The contributions of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation are analyzed in terms of catalyst activation, persulfate and ozone activation mechanisms, and temperature-enhanced reaction kinetics governed by Arrhenius behavior. Particular attention is given to photothermal effects that modulate surface reaction rates, mass transfer, and catalyst stability. By integrating mechanistic insights with reactor-level considerations, this work provides a rational basis for the design of robust solar catalytic systems with enhanced activity, selectivity, and scalability for real wastewater applications. Full article
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23 pages, 993 KB  
Review
Photocatalysis and Electro-Oxidation for PFAS Degradation: Mechanisms, Performance, and Energy Efficiency
by Vincenzo Vietri, Vincenzo Vaiano, Olga Sacco and Antonietta Mancuso
Catalysts 2026, 16(2), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16020145 - 2 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1947
Abstract
The continuous emission of persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants into aquatic environments has become a critical global issue. Among these, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are of particular concern due to their exceptional stability, extensive industrial use, and adverse impacts on ecosystems and human [...] Read more.
The continuous emission of persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants into aquatic environments has become a critical global issue. Among these, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are of particular concern due to their exceptional stability, extensive industrial use, and adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. Their resistance to conventional physical, chemical, and biological treatments stems from the strength of the carbon–fluorine bond, which prevents efficient degradation under standard conditions. This review provides a concise and updated assessment of emerging advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for PFAS remediation, with emphasis on heterogeneous photocatalysis and electrochemical oxidation. Photocatalytic systems based on In2O3, Bi-based oxyhalides, and Ga2O3 exhibit high PFAS degradation under UV light, while heterojunctions and MOF-derived catalysts improve defluorination under solar irradiation. Electrochemical oxidation—particularly using Ti4O7 reactive electrochemical membranes and BDD anodes—achieves near-complete mineralization with comparatively low specific energy demand. Energy consumption (EEO) was calculated from literature data for UV- and simulated-solar-driven photocatalytic systems, enabling a direct comparison of their energy performance. Although solar-driven processes offer clear environmental advantages, they generally exhibit higher EEO values, mainly due to lower apparent quantum yields and less efficient utilization of the incident solar photons compared to UV-driven systems. Hybrid systems coupling photocatalysis and electro-oxidation emerge as promising strategies to enhance degradation efficiency and reduce energy requirements. Overall, the review highlights key advances and future research directions toward scalable, energy-efficient, and environmentally sustainable AOP-based technologies for PFAS removal. Full article
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