Heavy Metal Pollutants in Water, Wastewater and Sediments: From Occurrence and Determination to Removal and Recovery
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 37
Special Issue Editors
Interests: advanced oxidation processes (AOPs); the application of ferrate (VI) for the removal of organic compounds from water and wastewater; industrial wastewater treatment technology; novel environmentally friendly coagulants; the removal of heavy metal ions; general analytical chemistry; green chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: water and wastewater technology; biological processes; advanced oxidation processes (AOPs); deammonification; nitrogen removal in a side stream; circular economy in a wastewater treatment plant; the recovery of raw materials from wastewater and sludge; the energy self-sufficiency of WWTPs; innovative technologies for the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater; technologies and devices reducing the nuisance of WWTPs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: water treatment; environemntal engineering; mineral processing; membrane filtration; sustainable development; geotourism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The issue of environmental pollution caused by heavy metals is intrinsically linked to industrial development and anthropogenic activities. Naturally occurring heavy metals, typically bound in stable chemical compounds within minerals, can be released into the environment through intensive mineral processing, leading to the contamination of water and soil. Additionally, a significant source of heavy metal pollution is untreated or insufficiently treated wastewater originating from the metal industry, particularly surface metal processing facilities and printed circuit board manufacturing. Other contributors include industries such as battery production, pesticide manufacturing, mining, tanning, textiles, metal smelting, petrochemicals, and paper manufacturing.
The term "heavy metals" generally refers to elements utilized in industrial processes that exhibit toxicity to humans or the environment. This category encompasses metals (e.g., Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Bi), semi-metals (e.g., As and Te), and even certain non-metals (e.g., Se). Heavy metals are characterized by varying degrees of toxicity, non-biodegradability, bioaccumulative properties, and the potential to induce severe poisoning or chronic health conditions.
Addressing the environmental risks associated with heavy metal contamination necessitates continuous advancements in analytical techniques for their detection, monitoring, and remediation. Despite extensive scientific research, significant analytical and technological challenges persist in accurately quantifying heavy metals in diverse environmental samples and effectively removing them from wastewater and contaminated soils.
This Special Issue is devoted to innovative methods for the determination, monitoring, and removal of heavy metals from contaminated natural waters, wastewaters, and sediments. We invite you to publish research results concerning not only new methods but also significant modifications of currently used methods that fit into the ideas of green chemistry, circular economy, and sustainable development.
Therefore, the Special Issue aims to present review articles and research papers on the following topics:
- Innovative analytical methods for determining heavy metals in environmental samples, including new methods of sample preparation, metal speciation, etc.;
- Removal of heavy metal ions using conventional and innovative agents and/or methods;
- Removal of heavy metals from polluted water and wastewater;
- Recovery of heavy metals using new extractants, e.g., ionic liquids or improved existing methods.
- Reviews and research papers are equally welcomed. We strongly encourage contributions focusing on combination methods and also on ecofriendly approaches applied for synthetic and real water, wastewater, and sediments.
Dr. Maciej Thomas
Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Barbusiński
Prof. Dr. Tomáš Bakalár
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- heavy metals
- analytical methods
- wastewater
- sludge
- recycling
- green chemistry
- circular economy
- sustainable development
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