Interfacial Engineering Solutions for Enhanced Degradation of Toxic Contaminants in Water Systems
A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Wastewater Treatment and Reuse".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 365
Special Issue Editor
Interests: electrochemistry; microbiology; environmental engineering; function materials; advanced oxidation processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The persistence of toxic contaminants in aquatic systems—including industrial effluents (e.g., nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds, dyes, PFAS), microplastics, pharmaceuticals (e.g., antibiotics), and agricultural runoff (e.g., pesticides)—demands innovative interfacial engineering strategies to overcome inefficiencies in conventional remediation. This Special Issue highlights interface design to govern contaminant degradation pathways through tailored interactions at functional surfaces. Key themes include the following:
- Selective Adsorption/Degradation: Nanostructured interfaces (e.g., MOFs, MXene composites) for targeting heavy metals, PFAS, and endocrine disruptors;
- Dynamic Interfacial Behavior: Mechanisms under real-water conditions (high salinity, multi-contaminant coexistence);
- Reaction Efficiency: Advanced oxidation processes (persulfate activation and photocatalytic H2O2 generation) via charge-engineered catalysts;
- Anti-Fouling Systems: Self-cleaning membranes (e.g., TiO2-coated ceramics) for sustainable water treatment;
- Biohybrid Interfaces: Biocompatible materials enhancing biofilm–catalyst synergy for biodegradation.
We welcome studies on scalable applications, such as electrocatalytic reactors for landfill leachate, solar-driven evaporators for desalination, and 3D-printed scaffolds for microplastic removal. Submissions integrating operando characterization, AI-driven optimization, or lifecycle analysis are encouraged.
Dr. Dan Chen
Guest Editor
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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
- toxic contaminants
- interface engineering
- contaminant sequestration
- advanced oxidation processes
- biofilm–electrode interfaces
- catalytic activation kinetics
- biocompatible materials
- anti-fouling interfaces
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
