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Progress in Biosorption, Membrane Separation, and Advanced Oxidation Processes for...
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Progress in Biosorption, Membrane Separation, and Advanced Oxidation Processes for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Green Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 2456

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dragana Lukić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: wastewater treatment; adsorption; biosorption; membrane technologies; inorganic pollutants; heavy metal removal; chemicals of emerging concern; coagulation and flocculation; natural coagulants
Dr. Vesna M. Vasić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: water and wastewater treatment; adsorption; bio-based materials; membrane separation processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sanja Panić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: heterogeneous catalysis; design of nanocatalysts; synthesis, functionalization, modification, and characterization of carbon (nano)materials; application of carbon-based (nano)catalysts in advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The growing complexity of environmental pollution, caused by a wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants, is a major challenge on the road to achieving sustainable water treatment and efficient resource recovery. This Special Issue, “Progress in Biosorption, Membrane Separation, and Advanced Oxidation Processes for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment”, offers a platform for recent advances in the areas of adsorption/biosorption, membrane separation, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), and hybrid processes targeting both traditional and emerging pollutants. In this Special Issue, we invite contributions in the form of studies that deepen our understanding of adsorption, separation, and oxidation mechanisms, introduce cutting-edge materials, or present treatment strategies that contribute to the circular economy and resource recovery goals.

Key topics include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Development and characterization of novel adsorbents/biosorbents, including functionalized biopolymers, agricultural waste-derived biochars and hydrochars, engineered nanomaterials, waste sludge and other biosolids as sustainable precursors for sorbent production; mechanistic studies on the adsorption/biosorption of organic micropollutants, dyes, and heavy metals, with an emphasis on kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics.
  • Membrane technologies, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration for wastewater treatment; emphasis is placed on the development of novel membrane materials, surface modifications to enhance selectivity, permeability, and fouling resistance; studies addressing membrane fouling mechanisms, cleaning strategies, energy efficiency, and process optimization are also highly relevant.
  • Contributions addressing novel activation strategies (photo-, electro-, sono-, or persulfate-based systems), green and low-cost catalyst development, and integrated or hybrid AOP configurations that enhance pollutant removal efficiency and energy performance. Studies exploring mechanistic insights, process optimization, and toxicity reduction are also among the topics of interest.
  • Studies on hybrid and integrated treatment approaches that combine adsorption, biosorption, membrane separation, and advanced oxidation processes.
  • Life cycle assessment (LCA), techno-economic analysis, and environmental impact studies to bridge knowledge gaps and guide real-world implementation.

This Special Issue welcomes interdisciplinary research, including original research and review articles that connect basic science with engineering applications. Manuscripts offering novel insights into material design, process optimization, or innovative combinations of adsorption, biosorption, and advanced oxidation technologies are highly encouraged.

Dr. Dragana Lukić
Dr. Vesna M. Vasić
Dr. Sanja Panić
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. Processes 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

  • wastewater
  • adsorption
  • biosorption
  • membrane technologies
  • advanced oxidation processes
  • catalysis
  • inorganic pollutants
  • organic pollutants
  • micropollutants

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3433 KB  
Article
Micro-Nanobubble Ozonation Coupled with H2O2 for Enhanced Treatment of Coking Reverse Osmosis Concentrate
by Zhixin Guo, Liang Wang, Jia Li, Bin Zhao, Zhaohui Zhang and Tian Yang
Processes 2026, 14(6), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14060921 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 394
Abstract
Ozonation is widely applied for refractory wastewater treatment, but its practical engineering is often limited by poor ozone mass transfer and low ozone utilization. In this study, micro-nano bubbles (MNBs) technology was employed to improve ozone delivery, and the performance of an O [...] Read more.
Ozonation is widely applied for refractory wastewater treatment, but its practical engineering is often limited by poor ozone mass transfer and low ozone utilization. In this study, micro-nano bubbles (MNBs) technology was employed to improve ozone delivery, and the performance of an O3-MNBs system for treating coking reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) was systematically compared with the conventional millimeter-sized ozone bubbles (O3-MBs) system. To further promote oxidation, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was introduced, forming an O3-MNBs/H2O2 system. Results showed that O3-MNBs (D50 = 36 μm) achieved a volumetric mass transfer coefficient 2.5 times higher than O3-MBs. Under optimized conditions (pH: 7–9, ozone dosage: 10 mg/(L·min), temperature: 20–30 °C), COD removal in the O3-MNBs system reached 34.9 ± 1.2%, nearly twice that of the O3-MBs system, while the O/C ratio decreased by approximately 50% (4.7 ± 0.2), indicating enhanced ozone utilization efficiency. The addition of H2O2 further increased COD removal to 52.1 ± 2.9% and reduced the O/C ratio to 2.9 ± 0.2, reflecting strong synergistic effects. Moreover, the integration of MNBs and H2O2 effectively reduced energy consumption per unit of pollutant removed. Overall, the O3-MNBs-based technology enhances organic pollutant degradation, ozone utilization and energy efficiency, offering a promising strategy for high-salinity refractory wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Biosorption, Membrane Separation, and Advanced Oxidation Processes for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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21 pages, 3225 KB  
Article
Remediation of Heavy Metals (Arsenic, Cadmium, and Lead) from Wastewater Utilizing Cellulose from Pineapple Leaves
by Aminur Rahman
Processes 2026, 14(1), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14010159 - 2 Jan 2026
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Abstract
Heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, and lead) remain one of the most common and complex environmental problems worldwide. Accordingly, there is a growing need for eco-friendly and affordable materials derived from agricultural waste for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water. This study [...] Read more.
Heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, and lead) remain one of the most common and complex environmental problems worldwide. Accordingly, there is a growing need for eco-friendly and affordable materials derived from agricultural waste for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water. This study aims to demonstrate how biodegradable pineapple leaf cellulose (PLC) can be used effectively in the remediation of heavy metals. The PLC adsorbent was prepared by treating it with ethyl alcohol (EtOH, 99.5%), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and 0.8 M sodium hydroxide. A scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to investigate the surface of the adsorbent. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed to measure the concentration of metals before and after adsorption. Removal of metal ions (As5+, Cd2+, and Pb2+) by PLC was investigated under varying conditions, including pH, contact time, and adsorbent dosage. The analysis of cellulose composite revealed significant potential for adsorption of heavy metals such as As5+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. The highest removal efficiency of heavy metal ions was detected at a pH ranging from 3 to 7. The biosorption order of PLC at pH 6 was Pb2+ > Cd2+ > As5+ with 99.53% (63.45 mg/g), 98.44% (37.23 mg/g), and 42.40% (16.27 mg/g), respectively. After 120 min, the equilibrium of the adsorption process was reached for As5+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. FT-IR characterization discovered an increased abundance of functional groups on the adsorbent. The SEM-EDS analysis confirmed the occurrence of elements on the surface of PLC. The study revealed that the use of PLC is an innovative method for removing heavy metals from aquatic milieus, a potential resource for eco-friendly and affordable wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Biosorption, Membrane Separation, and Advanced Oxidation Processes for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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Review

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18 pages, 1330 KB  
Review
Solar Advanced Oxidation Processes Using Parabolic Trough Concentrators: A Mini-Review
by Aleksandra Kulić Mandić, Gordana Pucar Milidrag, Milena Bečelić-Tomin, Anita Leovac Maćerak, Nataša Slijepčević, Nataša Duduković and Đurđa Kerkez
Processes 2026, 14(3), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14030510 - 1 Feb 2026
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Abstract
Solar advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilising parabolic trough concentrators (PTCs) present a promising approach for the sustainable removal of recalcitrant contaminants from wastewater. This mini-review critically evaluates 25 peer-reviewed studies employing PTC-AOP systems for the degradation of chemical pollutants and microbial pathogens. Reported [...] Read more.
Solar advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) utilising parabolic trough concentrators (PTCs) present a promising approach for the sustainable removal of recalcitrant contaminants from wastewater. This mini-review critically evaluates 25 peer-reviewed studies employing PTC-AOP systems for the degradation of chemical pollutants and microbial pathogens. Reported applications include photolysis, photo-Fenton and photocatalysis for the treatment of synthetic dyes, contaminants of emerging concern, industrial effluents, heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms. A performance-oriented comparison based on normalised indicators is introduced. The time required for one order-of-magnitude reduction (corresponding to 90% removal; τ90) reveals a significant mineralisation setback, where parent-compound degradation outpaces total organic carbon removal. The PTC concentration ratio and photon utilisation metrics highlight substantial variability in reactor design (geometry, materials, optical performance), which directly influences the treatment kinetics. Overall, PTC-AOP systems demonstrate strong potential as a polishing step within hybrid wastewater treatment. Future research should prioritise the standardisation of performance metrics, the catalyst design suited for high-photon and -temperature operation, and the integration into scalable and climate-resilient solar wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Biosorption, Membrane Separation, and Advanced Oxidation Processes for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment)
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