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Nanomaterials
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Nanoscale Materials for Detection and Remediation of Water Pollutants
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Nanoscale Materials for Detection and Remediation of Water Pollutants

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2724

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lidia Magerusan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Donat Street, No. 67-103, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: nanomaterials; nanotechnology; carbon-based materials preparation and characterization; graphene; green chemistry; electrochemistry; detection protocols; sensors; graphene-based modified electrodes; electrochemical mechanisms; portable sensing solutions; food science; polyphenols; nanomedicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, water pollution with different types of chemicals, waste products, or microorganisms critically impacts human health and the environment, causing severe economic consequences. In this context, the enforcement of stricter regulations raising public awareness and education on pollution prevention and water conservation and, even more, the development of innovative solutions that can enhance the detection and remediation of pollutants are essential for ecosystem preservation, ensuring sustainable access to clean water for future generations. Through interdisciplinary research, this Special Issue aims to showcase the cutting-edge advancements in nanoscale technologies and innovative designs to address critical challenges in water pollution, related to effective monitoring, detection, removal, and neutralization of various contaminants. We invite authors to submit both original research and review articles exploring the design, synthesis, characterization, and applicability of nanostructured materials that offer enhanced sensitivity and efficiency in detecting and removing a wide range of organic/inorganic contaminants and pathogens, highlighting such materials’ unique properties that enable their superior performance in sensing and filtration system technologies. Additionally, research on the environmental implications and potential risks associated with contaminants’ presence in real-world scenarios is welcome. By showcasing recent research and technological breakthroughs, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how nanoscale materials can be harnessed for sustainable and effective environmental remediation strategies, paving the way for safer and cleaner water resources and improved public health.

Dr. Lidia Magerusan
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Nanomaterials 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 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

  • nanostructured materials
  • water pollution
  • water analysis
  • electrochemical detection
  • organic pollutants
  • inorganic pollutants
  • pathogens
  • sensors
  • filtration systems
  • water remediation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3081 KiB  
Article
Efficient Removal of Micro-Sized Degradable PHBV Microplastics from Wastewater by a Functionalized Magnetic Nano Iron Oxides-Biochar Composite: Performance, Mechanisms, and Material Regeneration
by Huaguo Xia, Nini Duan, Beisi Song, Yuan Li, Hongbin Xu, Ying Geng and Xin Wang
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(12), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15120915 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 384
Abstract
The co-occurrence of the synthesis of a functionalized magnetic nano iron oxides–biochar composite (MFe@BC) via impregnation–thermal pyrolysis and its use to remove micro-sized poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microplastics from simulated wastewater was demonstrated in this study. The results showed that PHBV removal efficiency correlated [...] Read more.
The co-occurrence of the synthesis of a functionalized magnetic nano iron oxides–biochar composite (MFe@BC) via impregnation–thermal pyrolysis and its use to remove micro-sized poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microplastics from simulated wastewater was demonstrated in this study. The results showed that PHBV removal efficiency correlated positively with MFe@BC dosage, achieving an adsorption capacity of 13.14 mg/g and a removal efficiency of 98.53% at an optimal dosage of 1.5 g/L. Adsorption kinetics fit a pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.9999), and the isotherm followed the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.8440), yielding a theoretical maximum capacity of 31.96 mg/g. Characterization indicated chemisorption-driven monolayer adsorption via surface complexation and hydrogen bonding. Magnetic nano-iron transfer from MFe@BC to the PHBV surface imparted magnetic properties to PHBV, enabling synergistic adsorption and magnetic separation. Removal efficiency remained above 95% across pH 4–9 and COD 0–500 mg/L. Regeneration experiments indicated that the MFe@BC showed robust reusability, maintaining >92% PHBV removal efficiency after four adsorption–regeneration cycles. The results of this study may provide a feasible pathway for PHBV microplastic removal from secondary effluent, indicating that MFe@BC prepared in this study can be used for the removal of PHBV microplastics in a wide range of water bodies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoscale Materials for Detection and Remediation of Water Pollutants)
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23 pages, 5503 KiB  
Article
Removal of PET Microfibers from Simulated Wastewater Using Magnetic Nano-Ferric-Loaded Biochar: High Adsorption and Regeneration Performance
by Beisi Song, Nini Duan, Huaguo Xia, Yuan Li, Hongbin Xu, Ying Geng and Xin Wang
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(12), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15120905 - 11 Jun 2025
Viewed by 366
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microfibers in effluent are difficult to remove using technology. In this study, a novel nano-sized iron-oxide-loaded biochar (FBC) with robust magnetic response characteristics was prepared by the impregnation–pyrolysis method and used for the removal of PET microfibers in simulated wastewater. [...] Read more.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microfibers in effluent are difficult to remove using technology. In this study, a novel nano-sized iron-oxide-loaded biochar (FBC) with robust magnetic response characteristics was prepared by the impregnation–pyrolysis method and used for the removal of PET microfibers in simulated wastewater. The results showed that the removal efficiency of FBC on PET exceeded 91.69% over a wide pH range (4~9) and was barely affected by co-existing COD (15~500 mg/L) at an initial PET concentration of 1 g/L and FBC dosage of 3 g/L. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms indicated that the adsorption was more consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetics (PSO) model and the Langmuir model, suggesting that the adsorption involved both physical and chemical actions. In addition, the maximum PET adsorption capacity expected by the Langmuir model reached 4500 mg/g, confirming the high adsorption performance of FBC. The characterization of FBC before and after adsorption indicated that PET was adsorbed mainly by the formation of Fe–O–PET bonds, π-π interactions, and hydrogen bonding. In addition, the FBC maintained a high PET removal efficiency of over 95.59% after four consecutive regeneration cycles. This study provides new insights into the efficient removal of fibrous microplastics from wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoscale Materials for Detection and Remediation of Water Pollutants)
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12 pages, 1774 KiB  
Article
Rapid and Ultrasensitive Short-Chain PFAS (GenX) Detection in Water via Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy with a Hierarchical Nanofibrous Substrate
by Ali K. Ismail, Shobha Mantripragada, Renzun Zhao, Sherine O. Obare and Lifeng Zhang
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(9), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15090655 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 555
Abstract
GenX, the trade name of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and its ammonium salt, is a short-chain PFAS that has emerged as a substitute for the legacy PFAS perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, GenX has turned out to be more toxic than people originally [...] Read more.
GenX, the trade name of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and its ammonium salt, is a short-chain PFAS that has emerged as a substitute for the legacy PFAS perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, GenX has turned out to be more toxic than people originally thought. In order to monitor and regulate water quality according to recently issued drinking water standards for GenX, rapid and ultrasensitive detection of GenX is urgently needed. For the first time, this study reports ultrasensitive (as low as 1 part per billion (ppb)) and fast detection (in minutes) of GenX in water via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) using a hierarchical nanofibrous SERS substrate, which was prepared by assembling ~60 nm Ag nanoparticles on electrospun nylon-6 nanofibers through a “hot start” method. The findings in this research highlight the potential of the engineered hierarchical nanofibrous SERS substrate for enhanced detection of short-chain PFASs in water, contributing to the improvement of environmental monitoring and management strategies for PFASs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoscale Materials for Detection and Remediation of Water Pollutants)
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25 pages, 7148 KiB  
Article
Biosynthesis Scale-Up Process for Magnetic Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles Using Eucalyptus globulus Extract and Their Separation Properties in Lubricant–Water Emulsions
by Yacu Vicente Alca-Ramos, Noemi-Raquel Checca-Huaman, Renzo Rueda-Vellasmin, Edson Caetano Passamani and Juan A. Ramos-Guivar
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(5), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15050382 - 1 Mar 2025
Viewed by 996
Abstract
The use of natural organic extracts in nanoparticle synthesis can reduce environmental impacts and reagent costs. With that purpose in mind, a novel biosynthesis procedure for the formation of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) using Eucalyptus globulus extract in an aqueous medium has been [...] Read more.
The use of natural organic extracts in nanoparticle synthesis can reduce environmental impacts and reagent costs. With that purpose in mind, a novel biosynthesis procedure for the formation of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) using Eucalyptus globulus extract in an aqueous medium has been systematically carried out. First, the biosynthesis was optimized for various extract concentrations, prepared by decoction and infusion methods, and yielded IONPs with sizes from 4 to 9 nm. The optimum concentration was found at 5% w/v, where the biosynthesis reaction time and ammonium hydroxide amount were the lowest of all samples. This extract concentration was tested, including in replicated samples, for a scale-up process, yielded a total mass of 70 g. It was found by Rietveld and electron microscopy analyses that the structural and morphological properties, such as crystalline and particle sizes (9 nm), are equivalent when scaling the synthesis process. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy results indicated that Fe ions are atomically ordered and in a trivalent state in all samples, corroborating with structural results found by X-ray diffraction. Magnetic analysis showed that the scale-up sample exhibited ferrimagnetic-like behavior suitable for magnetic remediation performance (55 emu g−1). The eucalyptus functionalization was demonstrated by thermogravimetric measurements, whereas the colloidal analysis supported the stability of the magnetic suspensions at pH = 7 (zeta potential > −20 mV). The kinetic adsorption performance indicated a fast kinetic adsorption time of 40 min and remarkable removal efficiency of 96% for lubricant removal from water (emulsion systems). The infrared analysis confirmed the presence of the eucalyptus chemical groups even after the removal experiments. These results suggest that the scale-up sample can be recovered for future and sustainable magnetic remediation processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoscale Materials for Detection and Remediation of Water Pollutants)
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