Advanced Catalytic Materials and Processes for Water/Wastewater Treatment

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2025 | Viewed by 12397

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Interests: UV-based AOP; emerging contaminants; cyanotoxin; drinking water treatment

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Interests: advanced oxidation; electrochemistry; tertiary wastewater treatment; landfill leachate treatment; resource recovery
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin 300387, China
Interests: electrochemical technology; advanced oxidation; membrane fouling control; wastewater treatment
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of urbanization and industrialization, the quantity and types of contaminants entering water bodies have sharply increased, leading to a serious pollution of water resources. Contaminants with low biodegradability and low molecular weight can hardly be removed using traditional treatment approaches, but are vulnerable to advanced catalytic materials and methods. Recently, novel catalysts that are more environmentally friendly, and have higher catalytical efficiencies, and broader application prospects have been synthesized. Further research toward a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of catalytical processes should be conducted.

Submissions to this Special Issue, entitled “Advanced Catalytic Materials and Processes for Water/Wastewater Treatment”, are welcome in the form of original research papers or short reviews that reflect the state of the art and outlooks in this field. This Special Issue will focus on, but is not limited to, the following aspects: 1) designing novel synthetic methods and catalytic materials for water/wastewater treatment; 2) degrading contaminants of emerging concern by catalytic processes, including photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, sonocatalytic, etc.; 3) application of catalysts in advanced oxidation/reduction technologies; 4) theoretical modeling of catalysis processes; and 5) toxicity studies on catalysts.

Dr. Xiaodi Duan
Dr. Jing Ding
Dr. Junjing Li
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • water treatment
  • catalyst
  • catalytic processes
  • contaminants of emerging concern
  • advanced oxidation processes

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3514 KiB  
Article
Analysis of CeO2-Supported Ru Catalysts for an Efficient Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation of Reconstituted Tobacco Wastewater
by Guanfan Qian, Fan Zhong, Hongliang Lu, Huangbin Chen, Jianzai Shi, Pengfei Ma, Xiaohua Deng, Zhengzhong Fang, Nuowei Zhang, Quanxing Zheng and Binghui Chen
Catalysts 2025, 15(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15020109 - 23 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 664
Abstract
CeO2-supported noble metal catalysts show great application potential in the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds and hazardous organic wastewater. In this paper, an efficient Ru/CeO2 catalyst is developed by combining the oxygen affinity of noble metals and the redox [...] Read more.
CeO2-supported noble metal catalysts show great application potential in the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds and hazardous organic wastewater. In this paper, an efficient Ru/CeO2 catalyst is developed by combining the oxygen affinity of noble metals and the redox of supports for catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of reconstituted tobacco wastewater. First, what factors affect the catalytic performance are studied by investigating the effect of supports (C, TiO2, Al2O3, and CeO2) and noble metals (Pt, Pd, and Ru) on the activity. Second, the catalytic performance of Ru/CeO2 is further enhanced by tuning the morphology of CeO2 supports. The results indicate that the Ru/CeO2-R (rod-like) catalyst is highly active and can reach a high TOC conversion of 97.6% at 220 °C in 1 h. In contrast, the TOC conversions of Ru/CeO2-MOF, Ru/CeO2-NP (nanoparticle), and Ru/CeO2-C (cube-like) are 93.3, 77.9, and 68.2%, respectively. Ru/CeO2-R also presented good stability. The TOC conversion can be maintained at approximately 85% in four consecutive cycles. The characterization results indicate that better Ru dispersion, higher Ce3+ content, more surface reactive oxygen species, electron transfer between Ru and CeO2-R, and oxygen transfer from CeO2-R to Ru are the main reasons for the best catalytic performance of the Ru/CeO2-R catalyst. Full article
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14 pages, 5070 KiB  
Article
Magnetically Assembled Electrode Incorporating Self-Powered Tourmaline Composite Particles: Exploiting Waste Energy in Electrochemical Wastewater Treatment
by Bo Zhang, Dan Shao, Yaru Wang, Hao Xu and Haojie Song
Catalysts 2025, 15(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15010002 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 567
Abstract
A magnetically assembled electrode (MAE) is a modular electrode format in electrochemical oxidation wastewater treatment. MAE utilizes magnetic forces to attract the magnetic catalytic auxiliary electrodes (AEs) on the main electrode (ME), which has the advantages of high efficiency and flexible adjustability. However, [...] Read more.
A magnetically assembled electrode (MAE) is a modular electrode format in electrochemical oxidation wastewater treatment. MAE utilizes magnetic forces to attract the magnetic catalytic auxiliary electrodes (AEs) on the main electrode (ME), which has the advantages of high efficiency and flexible adjustability. However, the issue of the insufficient polarization of the AEs leaves the potential of this electrode underutilized. In this study, natural tourmaline (Tml) particles with pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties were utilized to solve the above issue by harvesting and converting the waste energy (i.e., the joule heating energy and the bubble striking mechanical energy) from the electrolysis environment into additional electrical energy applied on the AEs. Different contents of Tml particles were composited with Fe3O4/Sb-SnO2 particles as novel AEs, and the structure–activity relationship of the novel MAE was investigated by various electrochemical measurements and orthogonal tests of dye wastewater treatment. The results showed that Tml could effectively enhance all electrochemical properties of the electrode. The optimal dye removal rate was obtained by loading the AEs with 0.2 g·cm−2 when the Tml content was 4.5 wt%. The interaction of current density and Tml content had a significant effect on the COD removal rate, and the mineralization capacity of the electrode was significantly enhanced. The findings of this study have unveiled the potential application of minerals and energy conversion materials in the realm of electrochemical oxidation wastewater treatment. Full article
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21 pages, 8686 KiB  
Article
Green Synthesis of Silver-Incorporated Rutile TiO2 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin and Carmine G Dye Pollutants
by Hany M. Abd El-Lateef, Chao-Qun Zeng, Mai M. Khalaf and Ibrahim M. A. Mohamed
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120904 - 9 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 928
Abstract
Developing sustainable TiO2-based photocatalysts for environmental remediation is an increasingly significant area of research. However, a limited understanding of the long-term ecological impact of these photocatalysts poses a barrier to their practical and industrial-scale applications. To address this challenge, this work [...] Read more.
Developing sustainable TiO2-based photocatalysts for environmental remediation is an increasingly significant area of research. However, a limited understanding of the long-term ecological impact of these photocatalysts poses a barrier to their practical and industrial-scale applications. To address this challenge, this work employed a green synthesis approach to prepare an Ag/TiO2 photocatalyst designed to improve environmental compatibility and enhance efficiency in pollutant degradation. Ag/TiO2 was synthesized using mushroom biomass as a natural capping to evaluate its effectiveness in the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and azo Carmine G dye (ACGD). The mushroom biomass served as a renewable cost-effective support for Ag incorporation, while the Ag modification of TiO2 could enhance the photocatalyst’s performance. Structural, chemical, and morphological characterization techniques were applied and showed that the Ag/TiO2 particles consisted of irregularly shaped nanoparticles. The CIP removal reached 82.46% after 300 min and ACGD removal efficiency went up to 83.64%. The enhanced performance is attributed to the unique electronic and structural properties of Ag-modified TiO2. This study highlights the potential of Ag/TiO2 synthesized via green methods as a high-performance photocatalyst for the effective remediation of pharmaceutical and dye pollutants in wastewater treatment applications. Full article
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Review

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36 pages, 3154 KiB  
Review
Photocatalytic Application of Polymers in Removing Pharmaceuticals from Water: A Comprehensive Review
by Sanja J. Armaković, Stevan Armaković and Maria M. Savanović
Catalysts 2024, 14(7), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14070447 - 12 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3029
Abstract
This comprehensive review covers recent advancements in utilizing various types of polymers and their modifications as photocatalysts for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water. It also considers polymers that enhance the photocatalytic properties of other materials, highlighting their dual role in improving [...] Read more.
This comprehensive review covers recent advancements in utilizing various types of polymers and their modifications as photocatalysts for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water. It also considers polymers that enhance the photocatalytic properties of other materials, highlighting their dual role in improving water purification efficiency. Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in understanding the photocatalytic properties of polymers, including organic, inorganic, and composite materials, and their efficacy in degrading pharmaceuticals. Some of the most commonly used polymers, such as polyaniline, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polyethylene oxide, and polypyrole, and their properties have been reviewed in detail. Physical modification techniques (mechanical blending and extrusion processing) and chemical modification techniques (nanocomposite formation, plasma modification techniques, surface functionalization, and cross-linking) have been discussed as appropriate for modifying polymers in order to increase their photocatalytic activity. This review examines the latest research findings, including the development of novel polymer-based photocatalysts and their application in the removal of pharmaceutical compounds, as well as optimization strategies for enhancing their performance. Additionally, challenges and future directions in this field are discussed to guide further research efforts. Full article
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25 pages, 969 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Advanced Oxidation Processes for Degrading Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater—A Review
by Nur Nabaahah Roslan, Harry Lik Hock Lau, Nurul Amanina A. Suhaimi, Nurulizzatul Ningsheh M. Shahri, Sera Budi Verinda, Muhammad Nur, Jun-Wei Lim and Anwar Usman
Catalysts 2024, 14(3), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14030189 - 10 Mar 2024
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6284
Abstract
A large variety of pharmaceutical compounds have recently been detected in wastewater and natural water systems. This review highlighted the significance of removing pharmaceutical compounds, which are considered indispensable emerging contaminants, from wastewater and natural water systems. Various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), including [...] Read more.
A large variety of pharmaceutical compounds have recently been detected in wastewater and natural water systems. This review highlighted the significance of removing pharmaceutical compounds, which are considered indispensable emerging contaminants, from wastewater and natural water systems. Various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), including UV-H2O2, Fenton and photo-Fenton, ozone-based processes, photocatalysis, and physical processes, such as sonolysis, microwave, and electron beam irradiation, which are regarded as the most viable methods to eliminate different categories of pharmaceutical compounds, are discussed. All these AOPs exhibit great promising techniques, and the catalytic degradation process of the emerging contaminants, advantages, and disadvantages of each technique were deliberated. Heterogeneous photocatalysis employing metal oxides, particularly anatase TiO2 nanoparticles as catalysts activated by UV light irradiation, was reviewed in terms of the electron–hole separation, migration of the charge carriers to the catalyst surfaces, and redox potential of the charge carriers. This brief overview also emphasized that anatase TiO2 nanoparticles and TiO2-based nanomaterials are promising photocatalysts, and a combination of photocatalysis and other AOPs enhanced photocatalytic degradation efficiency. Finally, the challenges of applying anatase TiO2-based photocatalysis in environmental remediation and wastewater treatments to degrade pharmaceutical compounds, including mass spectroscopic analysis and a biological activity test of by-products of the emerging contaminants resulting from photocatalysis, are summarized. Full article
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