Environmental Behavior, Mobility and Remediation of Toxic Metalloids in Soil and Water System
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 11
Special Issue Editors
Interests: sedimentology; field geology; structural geology; geological processes; geology; geographic information system; isotope geochemistry; water quality; environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: acid sulfate soils; heavy metal pollution; soil remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Toxic metalloids such as arsenic, antimony and chromium remain a serious concern for the environment and human health because they can travel through soil and water, become accessible for living organisms, and resist natural breakdown. Their behaviour in soils and aquatic systems is shaped by many factors, including interactions with minerals, organic matter, and microorganisms, as well as changing chemical conditions in the environment. Understanding these processes is essential for predicting how these elements travel, assessing possible exposure risks, and developing ways to clean contaminated areas.
Recent research has significantly advanced our understanding of metalloid interactions with minerals and reactive surfaces under varying redox and pH conditions. Studies using synchrotron-based spectroscopy, advanced microscopy, and reactive transport modelling have revealed how secondary Fe and Mn phases, clays, and sulfide minerals govern the transformation, mobility, and bioavailability of metalloids such as As, Sb, and Cr. These insights are guiding the development of targeted remediation approaches and predictive geochemical models applicable to both natural and contaminated environments.
This Special Issue collates research from a range of disciplines that explores metalloid behaviour in different settings. These contributions address the effects of redox changes, acidity, salt content and competing elements on how metalloids change form and move, the influence of both biological and non-biological transformations, and new techniques for monitoring their distribution over time. A strong focus is placed on remediation approaches, from on-site immobilisation and biological treatments to new sorbent materials, with an emphasis on both sustainable and affordable solutions.
Manuscripts should explicitly address the role of minerals or mineralogical processes in metalloid behaviour. Unfortunately, studies limited to aqueous chemistry without mineralogical consideration fall outside the scope of this Special Issue.
By combining field observations, laboratory work and modelling, this collection seeks to improve our understanding of metalloid dynamics and guide efforts to protect the environment and public health
Dr. Niloofar Karimian
Dr. Chamindra Vithana
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. Minerals 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 2400 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
- toxic metalloids
- soil water systems
- contaminant mobility
- speciation
- remediation strategies
- geochemical processes
- environmental risk assessment
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- 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.
