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Sustainable Biodegradation and Bioremediation of Organic Contaminants in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecohydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 2429

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Elżbieta Sobiecka

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Guest Editor
Institute of Natural Products and Cosmetics, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
Interests: persistent organic pollutants; organic waste biodegradation and phytoremediation; waste management; water treatment
Dr. Anna Gronba-Chyła

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Protection, Faculty of Engineering and Technical Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Interests: waste (waste morphology, waste properties, rational waste management); circular economy; waste management through the production of new materials; sewage sludge
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Dorota Mańkowska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Natural Products and Cosmetics, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
Interests: phytoremediation; abiotic stress of plants in organic and conventional farming; biologically active compounds; antioxidants; herbal plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to expand our knowledge on the biodegradation and bioremediation of organic compounds, with a special emphasis on waste management. The scope of this Special Issue will complement current knowledge on the development of biological methods used in the disposal and elimination of organic waste from aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Biological purification methods are based on the biochemical reactions of microorganisms or higher plants that break down toxic compounds into simple compounds, which are then incorporated into metabolic pathways. Organic waste originating from laboratories or industry and their byproducts, accumulating in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as a result of excessive doses introduced into the environment, directly affect the physiological processes of natural habitats.

It is important to develop the most effective methods for removing harmful substances from the environment in the shortest possible period. It is also essential that these methods are environmentally friendly, contribute to reducing the destruction of landscapes and habitats, and limit the loss of biodiversity. Such an approach to the topic of eliminating organic waste from aquatic and terrestrial environments will certainly expand existing knowledge and reveal more possibilities and barriers for its implementation towards sustainable and environmentally friendly waste treatment systems.

Prof. Dr. Elżbieta Sobiecka
Dr. Anna Gronba-Chyła
Dr. Dorota Mańkowska
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. Water 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 2600 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

  • biodegradation and bioremediation
  • biological treatment of aquatic and terrestrial environments
  • persistent organic pollutants
  • toxic organic compounds
  • organic industrial and municipal waste

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4501 KB  
Article
Comparative Screening of the Performance and Selectivity of Biochars and Zeolites as Low-Cost and Eco-Sustainable Materials for the Removal of Organic and Inorganic Contaminants from Landfill Leachate
by Maria Concetta Bruzzoniti, Simona Di Bonito, Mihail Simion Beldean-Galea, Massimo Del Bubba, Vander Tumiatti, Salah Karef and Luca Rivoira
Water 2026, 18(5), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18050544 - 25 Feb 2026
Viewed by 407
Abstract
Despite global efforts to reduce landfill use for municipal waste, many sites remain active, and older closed sites still require management, particularly regarding leachate. Landfill leachate contains varying levels of organic and inorganic pollutants, generated through biological and physicochemical processes following water infiltration. [...] Read more.
Despite global efforts to reduce landfill use for municipal waste, many sites remain active, and older closed sites still require management, particularly regarding leachate. Landfill leachate contains varying levels of organic and inorganic pollutants, generated through biological and physicochemical processes following water infiltration. Its complex composition—including COD, inorganic macro-components, heavy metals, and xenobiotics—necessitates effective treatment technologies to enable safe discharge into surface waters. This study compares low-cost, eco-sustainable adsorbents for the removal of ammonium, trace elements (Cd, Be, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr, As, Sn, Sb, Se), and color (as an indirect measure of organic compounds) from urban landfill leachate. In more detail, six biochars from different biomass feedstocks and pyro-gasification conditions as well as natural chabazite and synthetic zeolite 13X (FAU-type) were investigated. After characterization, biochars were characterized and adsorption performance was assessed. Removal performance was comparatively evaluated after 24 h batch contact under fixed experimental conditions. Results showed that gasified biochars achieved high removal efficiency for metals and color but were ineffective for ammonium. Instead, both zeolites demonstrated efficient ammonium removal (~50%) but were less efficient for metals, reflecting the mechanism-driven selectivity of the adsorbents studied. Finally, a principal component analysis (PCA) revealed correlations between biochar physicochemical properties and contaminant retention, providing insight into key factors governing adsorption and informing the design of sustainable leachate treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biodegradation and Bioremediation of Organic Contaminants in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments)
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20 pages, 1239 KB  
Article
Sustainable Selection Criteria for Small Wastewater Treatment Plants Ensuring Biodegradation
by Zbigniew Mucha, Agnieszka Generowicz, Kamil Zieliński, Iga Pietrucha, Anna Kochanek, Piotr Herbut, Paweł Kwaśnicki, Anna Gronba-Chyła and Elżbieta Sobiecka
Water 2026, 18(3), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030433 - 6 Feb 2026
Viewed by 822
Abstract
The rapid development of rural and peri-urban areas increases the demand for decentralized wastewater treatment systems. Small wastewater treatment plants (SWTPs) with a capacity below 2000 PE are becoming an important element of local water protection and circular-economy strategies, yet clear guidelines for [...] Read more.
The rapid development of rural and peri-urban areas increases the demand for decentralized wastewater treatment systems. Small wastewater treatment plants (SWTPs) with a capacity below 2000 PE are becoming an important element of local water protection and circular-economy strategies, yet clear guidelines for selecting appropriate technologies are still lacking. This study analyzes the criteria used in decision-making for SWTPs from a multi-stakeholder perspective and evaluates the relative importance of technical, economic, environmental and social factors. The research was conducted in Poland and included a survey of 130 respondents representing six stakeholder groups (officials, operators, designers, contractors, scientists and residents). Respondents allocated weights to four main groups of criteria and assessed eleven detailed parameters on a 1–10 scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test with the Lilliefors correction to verify distribution assumptions, and the Kruskal–Wallis test to examine differences between stakeholder groups. The results show a consistent hierarchy of criteria, with technical reliability, treatment efficiency and operating costs ranked as the most important factors. Social and environmental aspects were assessed as relevant but secondary. Only minor differences between stakeholder groups were observed. The study highlights the need for integrated, multicriteria approaches in SWTP planning, particularly in dispersed rural areas. The findings may support local authorities, designers and investors in technology selection. The research is limited by the non-probability sampling strategy, the national scope of the dataset and the cross-sectional character of the survey. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biodegradation and Bioremediation of Organic Contaminants in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments)
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16 pages, 1019 KB  
Article
Investigation of the Impact of Wastewater from Waste Oil In-Stallation on the Activated Sludge Process, to Ensure the Proper Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant
by Agnieszka Bluszcz, Krzysztof Barbusiński, Barbara Pieczykolan and Mohamed Alwaeli
Water 2026, 18(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18010108 - 1 Jan 2026
Viewed by 770
Abstract
The study evaluated the feasibility of using the activated sludge process to treat real wastewater from used oil installations containing petroleum hydrocarbons, boron (B), and adsorbable organic halides (AOX). The aim was to determine the maximum ratio of this wastewater that could be [...] Read more.
The study evaluated the feasibility of using the activated sludge process to treat real wastewater from used oil installations containing petroleum hydrocarbons, boron (B), and adsorbable organic halides (AOX). The aim was to determine the maximum ratio of this wastewater that could be added to the influent without impairing treatment efficiency. Tested shares ranged from 0.50% to 1.90%. An initial 1.30% of the tested share caused process instability, reflected in the elevated total nitrogen (TN) levels in treated wastewater. After reducing the share to 0.50%, an adaptation of the activated sludge was observed, manifested by a decrease in TN concentration to below 15.0 mg N/L. For the most favorable share of 1.60% (0.38 ± 0.10 kgBOD5/kgMLSS d, 0.51 ± 0.14 kgCOD/kgMLSS d), the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), TN, and total phosphorus (TP) were 95.0% ± 1.5, 99.1% ± 0.2, 89.3% ± 2.7, and 94.0% ± 5.0, respectively. Increasing the share to 1.90% decreased treatment efficiency and exceedances of COD, BOD5, TN, and TP occurred. At this ratio, an increase in ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and TN concentrations was observed, indicating the inhibition of nitrification. However, the average concentrations of mineral oil index, AOX and B in the treated wastewater remained within permissible levels throughout the study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biodegradation and Bioremediation of Organic Contaminants in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments)
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