Sustainable Catalysts and Environmental Technologies for Wastewater Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable development [1] is a core concept of efforts to shape a future in which economic growth and environmental protection are balanced, and sustainable catalysis [2] represents a key tool enabling these two goals to advance together. In recent years, the demand for new catalysts capable of reducing energy consumption, minimizing the production of hazardous waste, and maintaining performance in terms of yield and selectivity—comparable to conventional catalysts—has increased dramatically [3]. Moreover, the development of new and more sustainable catalysts to address the challenges of wastewater treatment [4] has become critical. Currently, 1.2 billion people live in regions affected by water scarcity [5], and the reuse of wastewater following appropriate treatment can greatly alleviate this issue [6] and support progress toward sustainable development [7].

This Special Issue aims to shed light on the complex scenario of sustainable catalysts and technologies employed for wastewater treatment, including catalysts produced through sustainable methods (e.g., through recycling or biocatalysts synthesized from natural sources) and catalysts that can improve conventional wastewater processes and enable them to be carried out more sustainably. Contributions describing new eco-friendly technologies for wastewater treatment are also welcome.

Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Sustainable catalysts for wastewater treatment;
• Advanced oxidation processes;
• Novel, eco-friendly alternatives to replace traditional processes for wastewater treatment;
• Biocatalytic approaches for wastewater treatment.

With this Special Issue, we seek to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster collaborative and multidisciplinary research in order to make further steps towards sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

1. Silvestre, B.S.; Ţîrcă, D.M. Innovations for Sustainable Development: Moving toward a Sustainable Future. Journal of Cleaner Production 2019, 208, 325–332, doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.244.
2. Yenare, P.P.; Patare, R.D.; Sonawane, B.P.; Sanap, K.K. Green Chemistry Innovation: A Systematic Review on Sustainable Catalysis and Its Strategic Future Directions. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2025, doi:10.1039/D5CY00559K.
3. Abbas, A.; Cross, M.; Duan, X.; Jeschke, S.; Konarova, M.; Huber, G.W.; Lee, A.F.; Lovell, E.C.; Lim, J.Y.C.; Polyzos, A.; et al. Catalysis at the Intersection of Sustainable Chemistry and a Circular Economy. One Earth 2024, 7, 738–741, doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2024.04.018.
4. Vadivel, D.; Kameswaran, N.; Dondi, D. Advancements, Principles, and Trends in Progressive Catalytic Approaches for Sustainable Industrial Wastewater Treatment. Discover Catalysis 2025, 2, 6, doi:10.1007/s44344-025-00010-x.
5. Rizzo, L.; Gernjak, W.; Krzeminski, P.; Malato, S.; McArdell, C.S.; Perez, J.A.S.; Schaar, H.; Fatta-Kassinos, D. Best Available Technologies and Treatment Trains to Address Current Challenges in Urban Wastewater Reuse for Irrigation of Crops in EU Countries. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 710, 136312, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136312.
6. Hristov, J.; Barreiro-Hurle, J.; Salputra, G.; Blanco, M.; Witzke, P. Reuse of Treated Water in European Agriculture: Potential to Address Water Scarcity under Climate Change. Agricultural Water Management 2021, 251, 106872, doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2021.106872.
7. Manisha, M.; Verma, K.; Chanakya, H.N.; Rao, L. Reuse of Treated Wastewater: A Key Driver for Achieving All Sustainable Development Goals. Journal of the Indian Institute of Science 2024, 104, 989–1021, doi:10.1007/s41745-025-00473-9.

Dr. Pellegrino La Manna
Dr. Quaratesi Ilaria
Guest Editors

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• wastewater
• catalysis
• sustainability
• green chemistry