Next-Generation Biological Processes in 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: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 132
Special Issue Editors
Interests: drinking water; chemical-physical processes; sewage sludge minimization; thermophilic treatments; WWTP optimization; membrane processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: water reuse; circular economy; resource recovery; advanced biological wastewater treatment; treatment for sludge minimization; membrane processes; assessment of wastewater treatment plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: water and wastewater treatment; wastewater treatment; wastewater engineering; water treatment; biological wastewater treatment; water analysis; wastewater analysis; wastewater management; sludge treatment; environmental monitoring
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Biological processes remain a cornerstone of modern wastewater treatment; however, emerging challenges—such as increasingly stringent discharge limits, climate variability, and the presence of emerging contaminants—are driving the need for more robust, efficient, and sustainable treatment solutions.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of innovative biological strategies for wastewater treatment, with particular emphasis on technologies that enhance process performance, operational resilience, and environmental sustainability while minimizing energy consumption. Special attention will also be given to approaches that contribute to carbon-neutral wastewater treatment and support the transition toward circular economy principles.
We welcome contributions that explore advanced and novel biological approaches capable of addressing these challenges and improving resource recovery from wastewater streams. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- membrane bioreactors
- aerobic granular sludge systems
- thermophilic biological treatments
- engineered microbial consortia
- bioaugmentation strategies
- bioelectrochemical systems
- carbon-neutral and energy-positive wastewater treatment processes
- resource recovery (e.g., nutrients, energy, and valuable bioproducts)
- strategies for reducing antimicrobial resistance genes and infectious agents in treated effluents
- decentralized and small-scale treatment systems for small communities
In addition, studies investigating algae–bacteria symbiosis, hybrid biological processes, and nature-based solutions are strongly encouraged.
Submissions may include original research articles, methodological advancements, pilot- and full-scale case studies, as well as critical review papers that provide insights into the design, optimization, and practical implementation of these innovative technologies.
Through this collection, the Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge developments and promote sustainable, energy-efficient, and resilient biological solutions for next-generation wastewater treatment systems.
Dr. Maria Cristina Collivignarelli
Dr. Alessandro Abbà
Guest Editors
Dr. Stefano Bellazzi
Guest Editor Assistant
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
- biological wastewater treatment
- emerging contaminants removal
- membrane bioreactors (MBR)
- aerobic granular sludge
- nature-based solutions
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