Migration and Transformation of Emerging Pollutants and Improvement of Water Quality

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue "Migration and Transformation of Emerging Pollutants and Improvement of Water Quality" addresses the urgent challenges of aquatic pollution exacerbated by global climate change, urbanization, and emerging contaminants. It investigates the multi-scale dynamics of pollutant transport (e.g., microplastics, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances/PFAS) across aquatic-terrestrial interfaces, their redox- and microbiome-mediated transformations under shifting environmental gradients (pH, temperature, salinity), and system-scale strategies for water quality restoration. Advanced monitoring frameworks integrating AI-powered sensors, remote sensing, and citizen science data are highlighted to map contaminant fluxes in real-time. Innovative remediation approaches span bio-nano hybrid materials for targeted pollutant capture, electro-catalytic degradation of persistent organics, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), and phytoremediation systems enhanced by synthetic biology. Emerging risks such as antibiotic resistance gene propagation via microplastics and the cascading impacts of pollutant cocktails on aquatic food webs are critically evaluated. This issue emphasizes circular water economies (e.g., wastewater resource recovery), adaptive governance models for transboundary basins, and low-cost decentralized solutions tailored for underserved communities to bridge science–policy gaps. By synthesizing hydrobiogeochemistry, environmental nanotechnology, and socio-ecological resilience research, this collection provides actionable pathways to achieve SDG 6 targets while informing the post-2030 sustainability agenda.

Prof. Dr. Shibao Lu
Prof. Dr. Liang Pei
Guest Editors

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