Biological Removal of Emerging Contaminants: Toxicological Effects and Process Mechanisms
A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 144
Special Issue Editors
Interests: toxicology of emerging contaminants; environmental chemistry at solid–liquid interfaces; adsorption treatment technology; algal physiological ecology; marine biotechnology; biotechnological methods for CO2 removal; marine ecological restoration technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: microalgae; bioactive compounds; removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products; plant photosynthetic physiology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Emerging contaminants, as a class of newly identified harmful substances in the environment, pose potential risks to ecosystems and human health due to their complex toxicological impacts. These effects include endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, and bioaccumulation, which can disrupt biological metabolic processes and trigger long-term ecological damage. With the limitations of traditional physical and chemical removal methods such as high-energy consumption and secondary pollution, biological removal technologies have gained increasing attention for their environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness. Key approaches involve the use of microorganisms, algae, and modified biological materials to degrade or adsorb emerging contaminants through metabolic transformation, biosorption, and other mechanisms. Further research into the toxicological mechanisms of emerging contaminants and optimization of biological removal process parameters are crucial for improving treatment efficiency. This field remains a core research direction in environmental science, with great significance for ecological protection and sustainable development.
Dr. Yongfu Li
Dr. Litao Zhang
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- emerging contaminants
- microplastics
- nanomaterial
- pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs)
- bio-toxicity
- bio-removal technologies and mechanisms
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