The Development and Application of Membrane and Hybrid Technology in the Treatment of Emerging Pollutants

Dear Colleagues,

The pervasive presence of emerging pollutants (EPs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting compounds, and microplastics in global water sources poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Their complex structures, low concentrations, and persistent nature make them challenging to remove using conventional water and wastewater treatment processes. Membrane technology, with its superior separation efficiency, scalability, and minimal chemical requirements, has emerged as a highly promising advanced treatment solution. This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advancements and future directions in membrane processes for the effective removal of EPs. We seek high-quality research and review articles that address the synthesis of novel membrane materials (e.g., nanocomposite, biomimetic, photocatalytic membranes), innovative process design and optimization, and the integration of membranes with other tertiary treatment technologies (e.g., advanced oxidation processes). Studies focusing on fundamental mechanisms of rejection, fouling mitigation strategies, membrane longevity, and the economic and environmental sustainability of full-scale applications are particularly encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Novel membrane materials and functionalization for enhanced EP removal;
• Hybrid processes combining membranes for EP removal;
• Mechanisms of EP rejection, transport, and fouling;
• Antifouling strategies and membrane cleaning protocols;
• Process modelling, optimization, and life-cycle assessment (LCA);
• Pilot and full-scale case studies and techno-economic analysis;
• Removal of specific EP classes (e.g., PFAS, antibiotics, pesticides);
• Resource recovery alongside EP remediation.

Dr. Linyan Yang
Dr. Miao Tian
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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