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Environmental Breakthroughs: Advanced Research on New Materials of Depollution Strategies...
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Environmental Breakthroughs: Advanced Research on New Materials of Depollution Strategies for Water, Soil, Air, and Noise Pollution

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 6501

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Diana-Carmen Mirila

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Agritourism, Faculty of Engineering, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, 157 Calea Marasesti, 600115 Bacau, Romania
Interests: environmental engineering; chemical engineering; bioengineering; materials engineering
Dr. Emilian Florin Moşneguţu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Agritourism, Faculty of Engineering, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, 157 Calea Marasesti, 600115 Bacau, Romania
Interests: mechanical engineering; solid waste treatment; liquid waste; optimization methods; mathematical modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Claudia Tomozei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Agritourism, Faculty of Engineering, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, 157 Calea Marasesti, 600115 Bacau, Romania
Interests: waste; management; pollution; treatment solutions; landfills
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ana Maria Rosu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, 157 Calea Marasesti, 600115 Bacau, Romania
Interests: biotechnologies; food and chemical engineering; raw materials processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Materials aims to compile research focused on environmental depollution, addressing pollution in water, soil, air, and noise. We welcome submissions that explore the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of pollutants across various environments; present innovative materials and advanced technologies for the detection, monitoring, and remediation of pollutants; and adopt interdisciplinary approaches that integrate environmental science, engineering, and policy analysis. In addition, we seek review articles and meta-analyses that synthesize current knowledge and highlight future research directions. We also encourage the submission of studies that examine the socio-economic impacts of pollution and strategies for community engagement and environmental education, in addition to those that explore the application of novel materials in depollution processes and address emerging forms of pollution. This Special Issue hopes to further scientific understanding, foster innovative solutions, and inspire actionable strategies to combat pollution and protect environmental health.

Dr. Diana-Carmen Mirila
Dr. Emilian Florin Moşneguţu
Dr. Claudia Tomozei
Dr. Ana Maria Rosu
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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

  • depollution
  • water
  • soil
  • air
  • noise
  • materials
  • pollutants
  • remediation
  • sustainable
  • innovation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1269 KB  
Article
A New, Quick Method for Testing Organic Soils Based on the Electrical Impedance Spectrum of the Measuring Coil
by Barbara Solecka, Andrzej Nowrot, Katarzyna Nowińska, Jarosław Sikorski and Adam Michczyński
Materials 2026, 19(2), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19020381 - 17 Jan 2026
Viewed by 202
Abstract
This paper presents a new, quick method for testing the content of magnetic forms of iron in organic soils. These forms are an important marker of changes occurring in the environment. This method is based on impedance spectroscopy of a measuring coil inside [...] Read more.
This paper presents a new, quick method for testing the content of magnetic forms of iron in organic soils. These forms are an important marker of changes occurring in the environment. This method is based on impedance spectroscopy of a measuring coil inside which the tested material is placed—the material serves as the core of the coil. Unlike EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), the new method does not use electrodes, is sensitive to magnetic forms of iron, and is non-contact (the measuring current does not flow through the tested material). The results of research on three materials, including brown peat and silt with plant detritus, are presented in this paper. The results showed that changes in the standardized components of the measuring coil impedance in the frequency range of 100–135 kHz enable the determination of the content of ferromagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4). The proposed method is very sensitive to soil oxide content in the range of 0% to 8%. Additionally, elemental composition analysis was performed using ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy), which allowed for comparison of iron and other metal content with impedance measurement results. The final results confirm the usefulness of impedance spectroscopy as a non-destructive method for studying sedimentary environments and assessing their mineral properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Breakthroughs: Advanced Research on New Materials of Depollution Strategies for Water, Soil, Air, and Noise Pollution)
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15 pages, 2930 KB  
Article
Diatom-Inspired Design: A New Ru-Based Photosystem for Efficient Oxygen Evolution
by Ambra Maria Cancelliere, Rosalia Maria Cigala, Mario Samperi, Catia Cannilla, Francesco Nastasi, Ileana Ielo, Giuseppina La Ganga and Giovanna De Luca
Materials 2026, 19(1), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19010134 - 30 Dec 2025
Viewed by 335
Abstract
The development of efficient and recyclable catalysts is a central pursuit in modern chemistry. Homogeneous catalysts, while effective, often suffer from challenges in separation and recovery, driving the exploration of heterogeneous systems. In this context, this study introduces a novel composite photocatalyst, Ru(bpy) [...] Read more.
The development of efficient and recyclable catalysts is a central pursuit in modern chemistry. Homogeneous catalysts, while effective, often suffer from challenges in separation and recovery, driving the exploration of heterogeneous systems. In this context, this study introduces a novel composite photocatalyst, Ru(bpy)2(bda)-Ru(bda)(cp)2@DE (PS/Cat@DE), synthesized by attaching a catalyst (Cat) and a photosensitizer (PS) to diatomaceous earth (DE). The hypothesis that covalently binding the photosensitizer and photocatalyst to the surface of DE could enhance their reactivity and may protect them from degradation was supported by the enhanced photocatalytic performance observed in this study. The composite materials and single components were characterized using UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy, as well as SEM, and EDS microscopy. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrated the significantly higher activity of the PS/Cat@DE material compared to equivalent concentrations of the single photosensitizer or photocatalyst components, indicating the crucial role of DE in promoting oxygen evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Breakthroughs: Advanced Research on New Materials of Depollution Strategies for Water, Soil, Air, and Noise Pollution)
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17 pages, 13318 KB  
Article
A New Classification Method for High-Volume Fly Ash: Performance Based on Coal Source and Particle Size
by Xiangnan Ji, Chen Zhang, Yaru Yang, Jiahao Zhang, Lin Tang and Dongxu Ji
Materials 2025, 18(17), 4145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18174145 - 4 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1235
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of particle size in fly ash derived from different coal sources on the performance of fly ash–cement systems. Utilizing a newly developed flotation classification method, physical properties of fly ash were examined to reveal variations among different particle [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of particle size in fly ash derived from different coal sources on the performance of fly ash–cement systems. Utilizing a newly developed flotation classification method, physical properties of fly ash were examined to reveal variations among different particle sizes and coal sources. Thermal analysis was employed to analyze the calcium hydroxide content’s effect on the cement system, while selective dissolution methods were used to assess reaction rates. XRD analysis confirmed particle size effects. Results indicate that flotation classification optimizes the properties of fly ash, enhancing activity and flow values, where some of the ash fractions exhibit overall superior properties. The use of high-volume fly ash (50% fly ash replacement) promotes continued pozzolanic reactions, especially with smaller particle sizes. Reaction rates decrease with larger particle sizes, emphasizing the importance of classification. XRD analysis further supports these findings, revealing that smaller particle sizes favor cement hydration and pozzolanic reactions. Overall, this study provides insights into optimizing fly ash properties for enhanced concrete performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Breakthroughs: Advanced Research on New Materials of Depollution Strategies for Water, Soil, Air, and Noise Pollution)
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28 pages, 8933 KB  
Article
Clays as Dual-Function Materials for TNT Adsorption and Catalytic Degradation: An Experimental Approach
by Raluca Florenta Doroftei, Diana Mirila, Mihaela Silion, Daniela Ionita, Ana-Maria Rosu, Corneliu Munteanu, Bogdan Istrate, Gabriela Muntianu, Ana-Maria Georgescu and Ileana-Denisa Nistor
Materials 2025, 18(16), 3824; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18163824 - 14 Aug 2025
Viewed by 3504
Abstract
This study explores the adsorption and catalytic degradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from aqueous solutions, using montmorillonite-based catalysts. Commercially, montmorillonite K10 was modified through aluminum pillaring (K10-Al-PILC), followed by vanadium intercalation (K10-Al-PILC-V) and ozone activation. A novel aspect of this work is the use [...] Read more.
This study explores the adsorption and catalytic degradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from aqueous solutions, using montmorillonite-based catalysts. Commercially, montmorillonite K10 was modified through aluminum pillaring (K10-Al-PILC), followed by vanadium intercalation (K10-Al-PILC-V) and ozone activation. A novel aspect of this work is the use of naturally contaminated water as the TNT source. The selected sample, collected from the Plaiul Arșiței–Cireșu–Leșunț region (Oituz, Bacau, Romania), originated from an area historically exposed to explosive residues, where TNT traces were previously identified. The adsorption performance of the materials was evaluated by varying adsorbent dosage, contact time, and solution pH. Catalytic ozonation experiments were conducted under different catalyst masses, ozone concentrations, and reaction times to assess degradation efficiency. The results demonstrated that aluminum pillaring significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of the clay, while vanadium incorporation further improved both adsorption and catalytic activity. The vanadium-modified material exhibited superior performance in TNT removal, both through adsorption and oxidative degradation. Additionally, the catalytic ozonation process led to the formation of degradation products with reduced toxicity, confirming the potential of these materials for environmental remediation of nitroaromatic pollutants in real water systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Breakthroughs: Advanced Research on New Materials of Depollution Strategies for Water, Soil, Air, and Noise Pollution)
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Review

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33 pages, 1097 KB  
Review
Novel Alginate-, Cellulose- and Starch-Based Membrane Materials for the Separation of Synthetic Dyes and Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions and Suspensions—A Review
by Małgorzata A. Kaczorowska
Materials 2025, 18(24), 5495; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245495 - 6 Dec 2025
Viewed by 623
Abstract
Pollution of water resources with hazardous substances of anthropogenic origin (e.g., synthetic dyes, heavy metal ions) is currently one of the most important environmental issues, and the development of not only effective and economical but also eco-friendly methods of removing these substances from [...] Read more.
Pollution of water resources with hazardous substances of anthropogenic origin (e.g., synthetic dyes, heavy metal ions) is currently one of the most important environmental issues, and the development of not only effective and economical but also eco-friendly methods of removing these substances from aqueous solutions is one of the greatest challenges. Among the various separation methods, techniques based on the utilization of different types of polymer membranes have gained increasing interest due to their usually high efficiency, the materials’ stability and reusability, and the possibility of using “green” components for their formation. Recent research efforts have been concentrated, inter alia, on the application of natural polysaccharide polymers (e.g., cellulose, alginates, starch, cyclodextrins) and their derivatives to produce well-performing membranes. Appropriately composed polysaccharide-based membranes under optimal process conditions enable effective separation of dyes, salts, and metal ions (e.g., often with a rejection rates of >95% for dyes and metal ions and <7% for salts). This review concerns the latest developments in the formation and utilization of novel polysaccharide-based membranes for the separation of synthetic dyes and metal ions from aqueous solutions and suspensions, with emphasis on their most important advantages, limitations, and potential impact on the environment and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Breakthroughs: Advanced Research on New Materials of Depollution Strategies for Water, Soil, Air, and Noise Pollution)
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