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Advanced Adsorbent-Based Technologies for Efficient Wastewater Treatment
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Advanced Adsorbent-Based Technologies for Efficient Wastewater Treatment

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Wastewater Treatment and Reuse".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 7901

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yicheng Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, Everglades Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Belle Glade, FL 33430, USA
Interests: biochar; water treatment; adsorption; constructed wetlands; activated carbon; water; water quality

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wastewater treatment is crucial in maintaining environmental sustainability and ensuring clean water resources. With increasing industrialization and urbanization, the demand for advanced, efficient, and cost-effective wastewater treatment technologies has grown significantly. Conventional treatment methods often face challenges such as high energy consumption, incomplete pollutant removal, and secondary waste generation.

Recent advancements in wastewater treatment focus on innovative physical, chemical, and biological processes to enhance efficiency, minimize environmental impact, and recover valuable resources. Among these, adsorbent-based technologies have gained considerable attention due to their high removal efficiency, versatility, and potential for resource recovery. Developing novel adsorbents, including nanomaterials, functionalized porous materials, bio-based adsorbents, and hybrid composites, has significantly improved the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants. Understanding adsorption mechanisms, modifying materials to enhance adsorbent performance, optimizing usage conditions, and evaluating practical applicability in real-world scenarios are essential for advancing these adsorbent-based technologies.

This Special Issue of Water aims to provide a platform for the publication of innovative and original research on adsorbent-based wastewater treatment technologies. Topics of interest include the design and synthesis of novel adsorbents, adsorption mechanisms, regeneration and reusability strategies, and the practical implementation of adsorption technologies in wastewater treatment. The development and application of these advanced approaches will contribute to sustainable water management and environmental protection.

Dr. Yicheng Yang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • adsorption-based technologies
  • adsorbents
  • wastewater treatment
  • nanomaterials
  • emerging contaminants
  • regeneration and reusability

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 9689 KB  
Article
Efficient Removal of Ammonium Nitrogen from Aquatic Systems Using Thermally and Alkali-Modified Diatomite and Zeolite
by Gulfairus Bizhanova, Maral Abdibattayeva, Wang Ping, Umut Mussina, Laura Kurbanova, Arman Zhumazhanov, Dana Akhmetzhanova, Ospan Doszhanov, Bekzat Ismukhanbetov, Didar Bolatova and Yerlan Doszhanov
Water 2026, 18(9), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18091104 - 4 May 2026
Viewed by 811
Abstract
Ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) is a key biogenic pollutant in aquatic systems. This study evaluated natural diatomite (Aktobe region) and zeolite (Shankhanai, Zhetysu region) as low-cost, environmentally benign sorbents for NH4+-N removal, and examined the effects of thermal [...] Read more.
Ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) is a key biogenic pollutant in aquatic systems. This study evaluated natural diatomite (Aktobe region) and zeolite (Shankhanai, Zhetysu region) as low-cost, environmentally benign sorbents for NH4+-N removal, and examined the effects of thermal (200–750 °C; 450 °C selected) and alkaline (0.5 M NaOH) treatments on their structural, textural and adsorption properties. Materials were characterized by XRD, XRF, FTIR, SEM-EDX and adsorption performance was assessed by kinetic and equilibrium experiments. Specific surface area and pore characteristics were determined from low-temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements, and the specific surface area was calculated using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. Thermal treatment at 450 °C increased the specific surface area of diatomite (46.3 m2/g) and pore volume, and subsequent alkaline activation further enhanced adsorption activity. The modified diatomite achieved up to 84.6% removal of NH4+-N with an equilibrium capacity qmax = 1.758 mg/g. Adsorption kinetics were best described by the pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, which may indicate a substantive role of surface chemical interactions. Equilibrium data were fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich models: the modified diatomite fitted Langmuir best (R2 = 0.999), which may suggest predominance of a monolayer adsorption mechanism under the studied conditions, whereas natural samples and the zeolite were better described by the Freundlich model, reflecting likely surface energetic heterogeneity. Separation factor values (RL = 0.068–0.643) indicate favorable adsorption within the investigated concentration range. The point of zero charge (pHpzc) was determined for all sorbents (5.3–6.3), confirming that at pH 7 the surface carries a negative charge favorable for electrostatic attraction of NH4+ cations. Reusability tests over five consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles showed that modified diatomite and modified zeolite retained 93.4% and 92.3% of their initial removal efficiency, respectively, indicating acceptable stability under the applied regeneration conditions. These results demonstrate the potential of alkaline-modified diatomite and zeolite as effective sorbents for ammonium removal from wastewaters, contributing to the mitigation of eutrophication risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Adsorbent-Based Technologies for Efficient Wastewater Treatment)
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24 pages, 5075 KB  
Article
Automated Machine Learning-Based Prediction of the Effects of Physicochemical Properties and External Experimental Conditions on Cadmium Adsorption by Biochar
by Shuoyang Wang, Xiangyu Song, Jicheng Duan, Shuo Li, Dangdang Gao, Jia Liu, Fanjing Meng, Wen Yang, Shixin Yu, Fangshu Wang, Jie Xu, Siyi Luo, Fangchao Zhao and Dong Chen
Water 2025, 17(15), 2266; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152266 - 30 Jul 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2068
Abstract
Biochar serves as an effective adsorbent for the heavy metal cadmium, with its performance significantly influenced by its physicochemical properties and various environmental features. Traditional machine learning models, though adept at managing complex multi-feature relationships, rely heavily on expertise in feature engineering and [...] Read more.
Biochar serves as an effective adsorbent for the heavy metal cadmium, with its performance significantly influenced by its physicochemical properties and various environmental features. Traditional machine learning models, though adept at managing complex multi-feature relationships, rely heavily on expertise in feature engineering and hyperparameter optimization. To address these issues, this study employs an automated machine learning (AutoML) approach, automating feature selection and model optimization, coupled with an intuitive online graphical user interface, enhancing accessibility and generalizability. Comparative analysis of four AutoML frameworks (TPOT, FLAML, AutoGluon, H2O AutoML) demonstrated that H2O AutoML achieved the highest prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.918). Key features influencing adsorption performance were identified as initial cadmium concentration (23%), stirring rate (14.7%), and the biochar H/C ratio (9.7%). Additionally, the maximum adsorption capacity of the biochar was determined to be 105 mg/g. Optimal production conditions for biochar were determined to be a pyrolysis temperature of 570–800 °C, a residence time of ≥2 h, and a heating rate of 3–10 °C/min to achieve an H/C ratio of <0.2. An online graphical user interface was developed to facilitate user interaction with the model. This study not only provides practical guidelines for optimizing biochar but also introduces a novel approach to modeling using AutoML. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Adsorbent-Based Technologies for Efficient Wastewater Treatment)
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18 pages, 2834 KB  
Article
Fabrication of Silver-Incorporated Zn-Al Layered Double Hydroxide: Characterization and Bromide-Adsorption Performance
by Aiman Eid Al-Rawajfeh, Albara Ibrahim Alrawashdeh, Mohammad Taha Etiwi, Bandita Mainali, Muhammad Kashif Shahid, Hosam Al-Itawi, Ehab Al-Shamaileh, Mariam Al-E’bayat and Al Al-Sahary
Water 2025, 17(11), 1578; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17111578 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 1934
Abstract
In this study, a novel adsorbent was developed by synthesizing Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) incorporated with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), and its effectiveness in bromide removal from aqueous solutions was systematically evaluated. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses [...] Read more.
In this study, a novel adsorbent was developed by synthesizing Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) incorporated with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), and its effectiveness in bromide removal from aqueous solutions was systematically evaluated. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses confirmed the integration of Ag-NPs within the LDH, ensuring uniform chemical composition and structural integrity. A series of controlled batch trials, each varying a single parameter (adsorbent dose, contact time, or temperature) confirmed that over 95% of bromide (initially 5320 μg/L) was removed under optimized conditions. LDH/Ag-NPs exhibited superior performance, with kinetics well described by a second-order reaction model. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed the spontaneous and exothermic nature of bromide adsorption, with ΔG° values ranging from −2.03 to −0.73 kJ/mol as the temperature increased from 22 °C to 52 °C. In continuous-flow experiments, packed-bed column tests illustrated that LDH/Ag-NPs maintained more effective bromide removal than LDH alone over extended periods. Conductivity measurements further supported this enhancement, with LDH/Ag-NPs reducing final conductivity to 139 µS/cm, compared to 212 µS/cm for LDH. Furthermore, this study revealed the notable antimicrobial activity of LDH/Ag-NPs, as evidenced by a significant reduction in bacterial growth compared to LDH alone, highlighting its dual functionality for both bromide adsorption and water disinfection. Overall, the incorporation of Ag-NPs into LDH offers a promising strategy for developing multifunctional and sustainable water treatment systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Adsorbent-Based Technologies for Efficient Wastewater Treatment)
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Review

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32 pages, 1365 KB  
Review
Advanced Treatment and Disinfection of Hospital Wastewater: Progress, Monitoring Gaps, and Trends
by Kuailu Lin, Na Wu, Shengtao Liu, Jia Yao, Huilin You, Shiliang Heng, Xiaopeng Wang, Jiahao Huang, Pratap Pullammanappallil and Shunchang Yang
Water 2026, 18(5), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18050605 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1287
Abstract
Hospital wastewater (HWW) carries a high and variable burden of pathogenic microorganisms, along with a diverse spectrum of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants, posing significant challenges to conventional municipal treatment systems. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified [...] Read more.
Hospital wastewater (HWW) carries a high and variable burden of pathogenic microorganisms, along with a diverse spectrum of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants, posing significant challenges to conventional municipal treatment systems. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the global use of disinfection technologies for infection control, inadvertently leading to the generation and release of novel classes of disinfection by-products (DBPs) and transformation products (TPs). These emerging by-products, alongside the persistent release of pharmaceuticals and AMR elements, have exposed critical limitations in conventional and advanced disinfection processes when applied to such complex matrices. This review synthesizes recent literature on disinfection-oriented advanced treatment strategies and other contaminants of emerging concern in hospital effluents worldwide. The discussed technologies include chlorine-based disinfection (e.g., free chlorine and chlorine dioxide), ozonation, ultraviolet irradiation (UV), electrochemical disinfection (ECD), nanomaterial-enabled disinfection, and combined multi-barrier schemes. While real-time monitoring of key compounds in HWW is increasingly feasible, critical bottlenecks remain: culture-based indicators may underestimate viable but non-culturable populations, molecular assays quantify genes without directly reflecting infectivity or transfer potential, and complex matrices hinder methodological harmonization. Future efforts should prioritize risk-based multi-barrier design, activity-informed monitoring, and intelligent process control to achieve robust co-mitigation of pathogens, PhACs, and AMR while minimizing disinfection by-products (DBPs) and life-cycle energy consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Adsorbent-Based Technologies for Efficient Wastewater Treatment)
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23 pages, 1468 KB  
Review
Advances and Prospects of Modified Activated Carbon-Based Slow Sand Filtration for Microplastic Removal
by Zhuangzhuang Qu, Ulan Zhantikeyev, Ulan Kakimov, Kainaubek Toshtay, Kanay Rysbekov, Nur Nabihah Binti Yusof, Ronny Berndtsson and Seitkhan Azat
Water 2026, 18(2), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18020228 - 15 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1164
Abstract
With the increasing prevalence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in global aquatic environments, their potential ecotoxicological and health impacts have become a major concern in environmental science. Slow sand filtration (SSF) is widely recognized for its low energy demand, ecological compatibility, and [...] Read more.
With the increasing prevalence of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in global aquatic environments, their potential ecotoxicological and health impacts have become a major concern in environmental science. Slow sand filtration (SSF) is widely recognized for its low energy demand, ecological compatibility, and operational stability; however, its efficiency in removing small or neutrally buoyant MPs remains limited. In recent years, integrating modified activated carbon (MAC) into SSF systems has emerged as a promising approach to enhance MP removal. This review comprehensively summarizes the design principles, adsorption and bio-synergistic mechanisms, influencing factors, and recent advancements in MAC-SSF systems. The results indicate that surface modification of activated carbon—through controlled pore distribution, functional group regulation, and hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance—significantly enhances the adsorption and interfacial binding of MPs. Furthermore, the coupling between MAC and biofilm facilitates a multi-mechanistic removal process involving electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic interaction, physical entrapment, and biodegradation. In addition, this review discusses the operational stability, regeneration performance, and environmental sustainability of MAC-SSF systems, emphasizing the need for future research on green and low-cost modification strategies, interfacial mechanism elucidation, microbial community regulation, and life-cycle assessment. Overall, MAC-SSF technology provides an efficient, economical, and sustainable pathway for microplastic control, offering valuable implications for a safe water supply and aquatic ecosystem protection in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Adsorbent-Based Technologies for Efficient Wastewater Treatment)
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