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Sustainable Water Treatment Systems: Green Infrastructure and Bioremediation
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Sustainable Water Treatment Systems: Green Infrastructure and Bioremediation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 1734

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Suqing Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China
Interests: wetlands; ecological remediation; green-roof systems; disposal and reuse of river sediment; submerged plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water scarcity is currently one of the global issues that urgently needs sustainable water treatment systems. Sustainable water treatment not only includes harmless treatment of sewage, but also involves comprehensive recycling and utilization of energy and nutrients from sewage. Green infrastructure, as an interconnected green space network, mainly involves many green or natural systems, like green-roof systems, green-wall systems, and wetland systems. It has been considered an important design for urban water management in green city construction. Bioremediation, also as a kind of green technology, can reduce the concentration of pollutants in water using biological metabolic activities. It is widely used in urban sewage treatment.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

(1) Wetland systems;

(2) Green-roof systems;

(3) Green-wall systems;

(4) Membrane separation;

(5) Catalytic oxidation of emerging contaminants; 

(6) Refractory organic pollutant removal technology.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Suqing Wu
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

  • water treatment
  • sustainable
  • green
  • ecological restoration
  • bioremediation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2895 KiB  
Article
Effects of Humus and Solidification Agents on the Solidification/Stabilization Process of Organic-Rich River Sludge: Characteristics of the Stabilized Sludge
by Yuqi Zhu, Fuyuan Ran, Sihong Liu, Liujiang Wang and Chunzhen Fan
Water 2025, 17(8), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081153 - 12 Apr 2025
Viewed by 279
Abstract
River sludge usually contains a high content of organic matter, leading to its low strength or difficult solidification in its solidification/stabilization (S/S) treatment projects. This study selected river sludge with medium and high content of organic matter for the S/S treatment using modified [...] Read more.
River sludge usually contains a high content of organic matter, leading to its low strength or difficult solidification in its solidification/stabilization (S/S) treatment projects. This study selected river sludge with medium and high content of organic matter for the S/S treatment using modified curing agent (GCP) and cement (P.O). Effects of humus and curing agent on the S/S process of river sludge were investigated via analyzing physical properties, changes in organic matter, microstructure, and mineral compositions of the solidified sludge. The results showed that the increase rate of compressive strength of the solidified sludge was influenced by the content of organic matter and composition of the curing agent. The presence of humus inhibited the hydration reaction and reduced the increase rate of compressive strength of solidified sludge. Slag and phosphogypsum in GCP promoted the hydration reaction, significantly enhancing the compressive strength of the solidified sludge to 2242.24 KPa. The water content of the solidified sludge was influenced by the environmental conditions and curing agent, which could reflect the level of hydration reaction in the solidified sludge. The pH of the solidified sludge was directly affected by the humus in the sludge, with a decreasing trend during the S/S process. Decomposition of the humus in the sludge released H+, which reacted with OH− produced by the hydration reaction via neutralization reaction. The pH of the solidified sludge was lowered, and the hydration reaction was inhibited, hindering the decrease in the water content of the solidified sludge. Therefore, the hydration reaction has an antagonistic effect on the decomposition of the humus. Microstructure analysis (SEM) confirmed that GCP could effectively solidify the organic-rich river sludge. This study provides a theoretical basis for the S/S treatment of organic-rich river sludge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Treatment Systems: Green Infrastructure and Bioremediation)
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21 pages, 5338 KiB  
Article
Rainwater Treatment Using Ecological Buffer Zones: Influence of Plant and Filler Collocation
by Jinchi Xu, Feng Zhu, Wen Wang, Xiaolin Zhou, Juexiu Li and Chunzhen Fan
Water 2025, 17(5), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17050741 - 3 Mar 2025
Viewed by 573
Abstract
An ecological buffer zone system was designed using three different fillers (ceramsite, anthracite, and zeolite) and plants (Pennisetum hybridum, Canna, and Lythrum virgatum, 1:1:1) to explore the treatment efficiency and mechanisms for initial stormwater runoff. The effluent concentrations of [...] Read more.
An ecological buffer zone system was designed using three different fillers (ceramsite, anthracite, and zeolite) and plants (Pennisetum hybridum, Canna, and Lythrum virgatum, 1:1:1) to explore the treatment efficiency and mechanisms for initial stormwater runoff. The effluent concentrations of COD, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and total phosphorus were tested. The removal efficiencies of various pollutants and an analysis of the microbial community on the surface of the fillers were used to determine the optimal combination of fillers and explore their influence mechanisms on the treatment of initial stormwater runoff by the ecological buffer zone. The results showed that when using the plant combination of Pennisetum hybridum, Canna, and Lythrum virgatum (1:1:1), zeolite and ceramsite performed better in nitrogen removal. The removal rates of total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen using zeolite were 96.79% and 92.77%, respectively, while the removal rates for ceramsite were 93.76% and 91.49%. On the other hand, ceramsite was more effective in removing total phosphorus and COD, with removal rates of 83.64% and 71.67%, respectively. Based on the comprehensive research findings, the recommended filler combination for the ecological buffer zone was a mixture of zeolite and ceramsite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Treatment Systems: Green Infrastructure and Bioremediation)
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Review

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20 pages, 3613 KiB  
Review
Distribution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Organic Matter in Sediment of Lakes in China: A Review
by Chun Zhao, Fuyuan Ran, Sihong Liu, Liujiang Wang and Chunzhen Fan
Water 2025, 17(9), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17091294 - 26 Apr 2025
Viewed by 328
Abstract
Sediment is a core part of lake ecosystems, and its organic matter (OM) content is a key indicator of lake ecological health and regional carbon cycling. OM provides nutrients for phytoplankton and algae in water, thereby influencing the degree of lake eutrophication. However, [...] Read more.
Sediment is a core part of lake ecosystems, and its organic matter (OM) content is a key indicator of lake ecological health and regional carbon cycling. OM provides nutrients for phytoplankton and algae in water, thereby influencing the degree of lake eutrophication. However, excessively high OM content may trigger water eutrophication, alter sediment’s physical and chemical properties, and ultimately threaten the stability and health of ecosystems. This study innovatively selected Poyang Lake, Taihu Lake, Qinghai Lake, and Hulun Lake from China’s four major geographical regions to systematically investigate sediments’ OM content, sources, and distribution characteristics at different times. The results showed that the organic matter content of sediments in lakes from different regions varied significantly and was influenced by multiple factors, such as watershed characteristics, eutrophication levels, human activities, and climate change. Poyang Lake and Taihu Lake, characterized by high levels of agricultural activities and urbanization within their basins, exhibit significant fluctuations in organic matter content, with total organic carbon (TOC) levels ranging from 0.35% to 2.9% and 0.7% to 2.4%, respectively. In contrast, Qinghai Lake and Hulun Lake, influenced by natural conditions and ecological policies, show relatively stable TOC levels, ranging from 1.3% to 2.75% and 1.25% to 3.58%, respectively. By analyzing sediments’ OM content and combining methods such as organic carbon, nitrogen isotopes, and organic C/N ratios, it is possible to effectively assess the ecological health of lakes, provide critical data support for pollution control, and play a significant role in carbon cycle management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Treatment Systems: Green Infrastructure and Bioremediation)
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25 pages, 1642 KiB  
Review
The Role of Phytoplankton in Phycoremediation of Polluted Seawater: Risks, Benefits to Human Health, and a Focus on Diatoms in the Arabian Gulf
by Roda F. Al-Thani and Bassam T. Yasseen
Water 2025, 17(7), 920; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17070920 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 326
Abstract
Diatoms in the Arabian Gulf region could contribute to various biological carbon pumps, playing crucial ecological roles and producing bioactive compounds beneficial to both humans and marine animals. Despite their significance, some diatoms pose risks to human health and the economy; however, research [...] Read more.
Diatoms in the Arabian Gulf region could contribute to various biological carbon pumps, playing crucial ecological roles and producing bioactive compounds beneficial to both humans and marine animals. Despite their significance, some diatoms pose risks to human health and the economy; however, research on their roles in Qatar remains limited. This review explores the roles of diatoms in the Arabian Gulf, highlighting their potential for remediating polluted seawater and their applications in pharmacology, biofuel production, and detoxification of chemical waste and hazardous metals. Among the 242 diatom species identified along the coastline of the Gulf and Qatar, several genera represent 50% of the identified species and have demonstrated notable efficiency in phycoremediation and bioactive compounds production. These include antibacterial agents with therapeutic potential, antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals, compounds that degrade toxic substances, and agents for remediating heavy metals. Additionally, diatoms contribute to the production of biofuels, nutritional agents, dyes, and extracellular polymeric substances, and some species serve as bioindicators of pollution stress. To fully utilize their potential requires significant efforts and comprehensive research. This review explores the reasons behind the current lack of such initiatives and highlights the importance of conducting targeted studies to address the environmental challenges facing the Arabian Gulf. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Water Treatment Systems: Green Infrastructure and Bioremediation)
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