Biocatalysts in Biodegradation and Bioremediation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 84

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Course of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Division of Sustainable and Environmental Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Muroran 050-8585, Hokkaido, Japan
Interests: applied microorganisms; bioplastic production using biomass and toxic compounds; biodegradation of toxic compounds and bioplastics; bioremediation; health-functional substance production; medium-chain fatty acids production
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Guest Editor
Department of Community Planning and Natural Resources, Lulea University of Technology, 971 87 Lulea, Sweden
Interests: acidogenic fermentation; anaerobic digestion; volatile fatty acids; biohydrogen; bioammonium; biological wastewater treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The modern ecosystem is under severe stress due to the continuous release of environmental pollutants from human activities, including pesticides, hydrocarbons, textile wastewater, heavy metals, plastics, and other industrial contaminants. Conventional physicochemical methods for pollutant removal are often costly and generate secondary waste, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives.

Biocatalyst-driven biodegradation has emerged as a promising strategy. Microorganisms and their enzymes, along with fungi and plants, act as natural catalysts that degrade or detoxify toxic compounds in soil and aquatic environments. These biological systems not only accelerate pollutant removal, but also ensure minimal ecological disturbance, making them an essential component of green remediation technologies.

This Special Issue focuses on recent progress in biocatalysts for biodegradation and bioremediation. It emphasizes advances in microbial consortia, novel enzymatic pathways, and integrated biological approaches for tackling recalcitrant pollutants. Special attention is given to the development of sustainable, efficient, and environmentally compatible solutions that harness the catalytic power of microbes and enzymes.

By showcasing innovative research and practical applications, this Special Issue provides readers with updated knowledge and strategies to develop next-generation biocatalyst-based technologies for effective environmental cleanup.

This Special Issue on “Biocatalysts in Biodegradation and Bioremediation” aims to showcase recent advances in biocatalyst-based strategies for the degradation and remediation of environmental pollutants. It highlights innovative research on microbial, enzymatic, and plant-based systems, as well as integrated approaches that provide sustainable and efficient solutions for environmental cleanup.

Prof. Dr. Young-Cheol Chang
Dr. Omprakash Sarkar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biodegradation
  • bioremediation
  • biocatalysts in biodegradation
  • genetic engineering for bioremediation
  • enzymatic remediation
  • environmental pollutants
  • plastic biodegradation
  • xenobiotics degradation
  • heavy metal bioremediation
  • plant-assisted bioremediation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 7399 KB  
Article
Biowaste-to-Catalyst: Magnetite Functionalized Potato-Shell as Green Magnetic Biochar Catalyst (PtS200–Fe3O4) for Efficient Procion Blue Textile Wastewater Dye Abatement
by Manasik M. Nour, Maha A. Tony, Mai K. Fouad and Hossam A. Nabwey
Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100997 (registering DOI) - 19 Oct 2025
Abstract
Bio-waste from potato shell agro-waste-based photocatalyst is introduced using potato shell integrated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a novel photocatalyst for photo-Fenton oxidation reaction. The catalyst was prepared via thermal activation of biochar, followed by co-precipitation of magnetite nanoparticles, resulting in [...] Read more.
Bio-waste from potato shell agro-waste-based photocatalyst is introduced using potato shell integrated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a novel photocatalyst for photo-Fenton oxidation reaction. The catalyst was prepared via thermal activation of biochar, followed by co-precipitation of magnetite nanoparticles, resulting in a stable and reusable material. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques augmented with the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis with elemental mapping were used to assess the prepared sample. The prepared material, PtS200–Fe3O4, is then applied for oxidizing Procion Blue dye using biochar-supported magnetite catalyst. The oxidation process was evaluated under varying operational parameters, including pH, temperature, catalyst loading, oxidant dosage, and dye concentration. Results revealed that the system achieved complete dye removal within 20 min at 60 °C and pH 3, demonstrating the strong catalytic activity of the composite. Furthermore, the kinetic modeling is evaluated and the data confirmed that the degradation followed first-order kinetics. Also, the thermodynamic parameters indicated low activation energy with PtS200–Fe3O4 composite in advanced oxidation processes. The system sustainability is also assessed, and the reusability test verified that the catalyst retained over 70% efficiency after six consecutive cycles, highlighting its durability. The study confirms the feasibility of using biochar-supported magnetite as a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and efficient catalyst for the treatment of textile effluents and other dye-contaminated wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocatalysts in Biodegradation and Bioremediation)
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