Applications of Magnetic Materials in Water Treatment—2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

After the success of the first volume of our Special Issue, "Applications of Magnetic Materials in Water Treatment", we invite you to submit your manuscript for consideration and publication in this second volume.

In the field of water treatment materials, uncontrolled colloidal residues critically hinder sedimentation efficiency, escalating operational costs. While magnetic field integration enhances treatment efficiency through molecular- and colloidal-level interactions that optimize flocculation kinetics and separation dynamics, existing studies predominantly focus on empirical evaluations of magnetochemical effects. The fundamental mechanistic understanding of field gradient-driven interfacial phenomena and nanoscale magnetic interactions remains underdeveloped. Addressing this gap requires multidisciplinary convergence of environmental engineering, materials science, and physics to elucidate magnetic separation principles, enabling the design of innovative magnetic materials that bridge theoretical advancements with engineered solutions for process optimization and cost-effective implementation.

This Special Issue of Magnetochemistry aims to advance the application of magnetic (nano)materials in water pollution control by bridging mechanistic insights with engineering innovations. We invite original research, reviews, and case studies addressing (but not limited to) the following topics:

1. Magnetic Catalysts: Field-enhanced catalytic degradation of organic pollutants, magnetically recoverable photocatalysts, and redox-active magnetic nanocomposites.
2. Magnetic Coagulants/Flocculants: Magnetic nanoparticle-enabled flocculation mechanisms, field-assisted aggregation kinetics, and hybrid polymer–magnetic systems.
3. Magnetic Adsorbents: Magneto-responsive adsorbents for heavy metals, rare-earth elements, and emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS, microplastics), with emphasis on adsorption–desorption cyclability.
4. Separation Technologies: High-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) systems, magneto-responsive membrane filtration, and field-tunable magnetic fluidized beds.
5. Resource Recovery: Magnetic harvesting of nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), selective recovery of critical metals, and circular economy-driven material regeneration strategies.
6. Smart Material Systems: Stimuli-responsive magnetic composites, self-propelled micromotors for targeted pollutant removal, and AI-optimized magnetic field configurations.

Priority will be given to studies on the green synthesis of magnetic materials, life cycle analysis of magnetic treatment processes, and pilot-scale validations of field-assisted technologies. This collection seeks to accelerate the translation of lab-scale innovations into industrial practice, fostering a holistic understanding of magnetic material applications across the water treatment value chain.

Magnetochemistry provides immediate open access to high-impact research, ensuring global visibility for groundbreaking contributions in this multidisciplinary field. By compiling advanced studies on material innovation, process engineering, and environmental impact assessment, this collection will serve as a cornerstone reference for advancing sustainable water remediation technologies.

Dr. Wei Ding
Prof. Dr. Huaili Zheng
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 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. Magnetochemistry 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.