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Coatings
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New Trends in Films and Surfaces for Wastewater Treatment
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New Trends in Films and Surfaces for Wastewater Treatment

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 1310

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marlene Lariza Andrade Guel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Investigacion en Quimica Aplicada, Saltillo, Mexico
Interests: functionalization of carbon-based, ceramic, and metallic nanoparticles using ultrasound energy for contaminant removal; antibacterial, and medical applications; polymeric nanocomposites; synthesis and applications for water treatment; flame retardants; antibacterials; adsorption
Dr. Carlos Rodrigo Muñiz-Valdez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Interests: surfaces; polymer; materials science; ceramics; microstructures; electrical properties
Dr. Diego Martínez Carrillo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Centro de Investigación en Geociencias Aplicadas de la Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, Mexico
Interests: optimization of mineral concentration processes; environmental remediation; treatment of wastewater and natural waters

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water is an essential resource for life, and in recent years, there has been a significant shortage of fresh water worldwide. This scarcity has led to an increased demand for innovative wastewater treatment technologies that can effectively remove pollutants and enable water reuse. Conventional treatments often fail to eliminate heavy metals and organic compounds such as pharmaceuticals, hormones, and dyes, which are highly toxic and pose significant environmental and health risks.

To address these challenges, new technologies have emerged, including thin films, nanocomposites, and nanocoatings that can trap organic, inorganic, and biological pollutants on their surfaces to produce clean water.

This Special Issue, titled "New Trends in Films and Surfaces for Wastewater Treatment", aims to gather cutting-edge research on the application of coating technologies in the field of wastewater treatment. We invite submissions that explore the development, characterization, and application of thin films, nanocomposites, and functional coatings designed to remove organic, inorganic, and biological pollutants from wastewater. Topics include the following:

  • Thin-film nanocomposites for pollutant removal;
  • Surface modifications for enhanced water treatment;
  • Green and sustainable coating technologies;
  • Advanced characterization and mechanisms;
  • Applications and future development;
  • Theorical and computational modeling of surfaces;
  • Film materials and interfaces for water treatment;
  • Emerging technologies involving surfaces for water treatment.

By bringing together cutting-edge research and practical insights, this Special Issue seeks to advance the field of wastewater treatment by highlighting innovative materials and surface modifications that can effectively address the challenges of water pollution and scarcity.

Dr. Marlene Lariza Andrade Guel
Guest Editor

Dr. Carlos Rodrigo Muñiz-Valdez
Dr. Diego Martínez Carrillo
Guest Editor Assistants

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Coatings 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 2600 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

  • film
  • surfaces
  • interfaces
  • water treatment
  • adsorption
  • organic pollutants
  • inorganic pollutants
  • biological pollutants
  • coatings
  • electrocoagulation
  • nanocomposites

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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  • 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.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2469 KB  
Article
Sonochemical Modification of ZrO2 Nanoparticles with Thiamine Hydrochloride for the Development of Films with PLA for the Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium
by Carlos Rodrigo Muñiz-Valdez, Nelly Abigaíl Rodríguez-Rosales, Juan Carlos Ortiz-Cuellar, Jesús Fernando Martínez-Villafañe, Josué Gómez-Casas, Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego, Christian Javier Cabello-Alvarado, Marlene Andrade-Guel and Jesús Salvador Galindo-Valdés
Coatings 2025, 15(12), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15121484 - 16 Dec 2025
Viewed by 264
Abstract
Industrial wastewater can be reused in other everyday processes to help combat water scarcity worldwide. One contaminant in industrial wastewater is hexavalent chromium, which is highly toxic and can cause kidney, liver, and respiratory problems, making its removal vital. In this study, PLA-based [...] Read more.
Industrial wastewater can be reused in other everyday processes to help combat water scarcity worldwide. One contaminant in industrial wastewater is hexavalent chromium, which is highly toxic and can cause kidney, liver, and respiratory problems, making its removal vital. In this study, PLA-based films containing modified zirconia nanoparticles were developed via a solution-mixing process for hexavalent chromium adsorption. Obtaining the films involved two stages: the first was the chemical modification of ZrO2 nanoparticles with thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1) using fixed-frequency ultrasound at an output of 750 W and 50% amplitude for 60 min. The second stage involved preparing the films by mixing them in the solution using an ultrasonic bath. The nanoparticle concentrations were 0.25, 0.5, and 1 wt%. The results obtained from characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed the characteristic bands of PLA and the characteristic peak of the Zr-O bond corresponding to the ZrO2 nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the ZrO2 nanoparticles provided thermal stability to the PLA polymer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed a broad peak of amorphous PLA at 16.8° and signals corresponding to the crystalline phase of ZrO2. The morphology of a cross-section of the films was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing a rough surface with pores. Finally, hexavalent chromium adsorption tests were carried out, measuring the adsorption efficiency under the parameters of pH, concentration, and contact time. The PLAZrO2 sample achieved an adsorption efficiency of 83% at pH 2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Films and Surfaces for Wastewater Treatment)
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18 pages, 3000 KB  
Article
Polysulfone/ZnO Modified Nanocomposite Films for the Removal of Dyes
by Christian J. Cabello-Alvarado, Marlene Andrade-Guel, Marissa Pérez-Alvarez, Diego Martínez-Carrillo, Pascual Bartolo-Pérez, Zoe V. Quiñones-Jurado and Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego
Coatings 2025, 15(12), 1462; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15121462 - 10 Dec 2025
Viewed by 466
Abstract
Wastewater can be reused in industrial processes, for domestic activities, and for agriculture. This is a strategy to address the global water shortage. Consequently, there is an ongoing search for new materials that can effectively remove contaminants from wastewater, as dyes are considered [...] Read more.
Wastewater can be reused in industrial processes, for domestic activities, and for agriculture. This is a strategy to address the global water shortage. Consequently, there is an ongoing search for new materials that can effectively remove contaminants from wastewater, as dyes are considered persistent pollutants. This study synthesized films based on polysulfone with chemically modified ZnO nanoparticles by the sonochemical method for application as an adsorbent material for indigo and crystal violet. The films were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogranimetric analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM); changes were observed with the incorporation of the nanoparticles. The results reveal that the films achieved a dye removal of 80 mg/g. The crystallite size was measured using the Scherrer equation for the polysulfone (PSF) sample, which was 0.024 nm, and using the same method the result obtained was 0.048 nm for the PSFZNO2 sample. The modification with L-serine is novel, as it is an amino acid and a non-toxic substance for the human body. There are few studies on this type of reagent regarding the modification of nanoparticles to provide them with different functionalities. This work was carried out in accordance with the principles of green chemistry, specifically using ultrasound technology, which promotes principles 6 and 9 by reducing energy consumption through the use of lower temperatures and short reaction times. Principles 2 and 3 are also addressed by modifying the surface of the nanoparticles directly. This process eliminates the need for intermediate steps or the use of highly toxic reagents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Films and Surfaces for Wastewater Treatment)
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