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Sustainable and Green Synthesis of Nanomaterials for Heavy Metal Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 416

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: nanomaterials; heavy metals; environment

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, London KT1 2EE, UK
Interests: nanomaterials; heavy metals; environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
The Southern Modern Forestry Collaborative Innovation Center, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: nanomaterial; heavy metals; plant stress tolerance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing environmental and health concerns associated with heavy metal pollution have driven the need for innovative remediation strategies. Traditional methods for heavy metal removal often suffer from high costs, secondary pollution, and inefficiency. Nanomaterials offer a promising alternative due to their high surface area, reactivity, and tunable properties. However, conventional synthesis routes frequently involve toxic chemicals, energy-intensive processes, and non-renewable resources, undermining their sustainability.

This Special Issue focuses on the green and sustainable synthesis of nanomaterials using eco-friendly approaches such as plant extracts, microorganisms, and bio-based precursors. These methods minimize hazardous waste, reduce energy consumption, and align with circular economy principles. Synthesized nanomaterials (e.g., metal oxides, carbon-based nanostructures, or biopolymer composites) will be evaluated for their efficacy in heavy metal detection, adsorption, and catalytic degradation in contaminated water and soil. Key objectives include optimizing synthesis parameters, characterizing material properties, and assessing performance under real-world conditions.

By integrating green chemistry with nanotechnology, this Special Issue aims to support the development of cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally benign solutions for heavy metal mitigation, contributing to both scientific advancement and sustainable environmental practices.

Dr. Abolghassem Emamverdian
Prof. Dr. James Barker
Dr. Abazar Ghorbani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • green synthesis
  • nanomaterials
  • heavy metal remediation
  • sustainable nanotechnology
  • eco-friendly materials
  • water/soil purification
  • circular economy
  • biopolymer composites

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 4680 KB  
Article
Preparation of Glass-Ceramics Using Zinc-Containing Smelting Slag: Structure, Properties and Solidification of Zinc
by Nannan Wu, Junhui Huang, Junxi Qiu, Zonghang Li, Xiaofan Li, Bohan Li, Nianzhe Li, Yuxuan Zhang and Shunli Ouyang
Materials 2025, 18(15), 3555; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153555 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 275
Abstract
The stabilization of heavy metal elements, such as zinc, in the form of ions within the glass-ceramics represents a valuable approach to addressing environmental pollution caused by heavy metals. This study investigates the feasibility and physicochemical properties of diopside-based glass-ceramics synthesized from zinc-containing [...] Read more.
The stabilization of heavy metal elements, such as zinc, in the form of ions within the glass-ceramics represents a valuable approach to addressing environmental pollution caused by heavy metals. This study investigates the feasibility and physicochemical properties of diopside-based glass-ceramics synthesized from zinc-containing smelting slag. The zinc-rich smelting slag is abundant in SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and other constituents, thereby providing cost-effective and efficient raw materials for glass-ceramic production. The conversion of zinc-containing smelting slag into glass-ceramics was achieved through a melting process. We analyzed the effects of varying doping levels on the properties of the resulting glass-ceramics. The results indicated that as the doping level of smelting slag increases, the crystallization temperature of the glass-ceramics decreases while the crystal phases of diopside and anorthite progressively increase, significantly enhancing both mechanical strength and chemical stability. Notably, when the doping level reaches 60%, these glass-ceramics exhibit remarkable physical properties, including high density (3.12 g/cm3), Vickers hardness (16.60 GPa), and excellent flexural strength (150.75 MPa). Furthermore, with increasing amounts of doped smelting slag, there are substantial improvements in acid resistance, alkali resistance, and corrosion resistance in these materials. Raman spectroscopy and EDS analysis further verified a uniform distribution of the crystal phase and effective immobilization of heavy metal zinc. Full article
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