Removal of Micro- and Nanoplastics from Water

Dear Colleagues,

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have emerged as pervasive contaminants in water, posing significant ecological and human health risks. Their small size, chemical persistence, and surface reactivity enable long-term dispersion and bioaccumulation across trophic levels. Conventional water treatment processes often fail to effectively remove MNPs, necessitating the development of innovative and sustainable removal technologies. Recent advances in adsorption, membrane filtration, photocatalysis, coagulation, biodegradation, and electrochemical processes have shown promising potential for MNP elimination from wastewater and natural waters. However, challenges remain in optimizing the efficiency, scalability, selectivity, and environmental compatibility of these techniques. This Special Issue of Molecules, titled “Removal of Micro- and Nanoplastics from Water,” will present cutting-edge research on materials, mechanisms, and strategies for MNP removal. We welcome contributions covering novel sorbents and catalysts, green treatment technologies, mechanistic insights into MNP–material interactions, and performance evaluation under realistic conditions. Studies integrating experimental and modeling approaches, as well as life-cycle and toxicity assessments, are particularly encouraged. By bringing together interdisciplinary research, this Special Issue will advance molecular-level understanding and practical solutions for mitigating MNP pollution in aquatic systems.

Prof. Dr. Xianhua Liu
Guest Editor

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. Molecules 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 2700 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.