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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2025) | Viewed by 9218

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mohammed J.K. Bashir

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Guest Editor

School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, 120 Spencer St., Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Interests: emerging contaminants; membrane separation; bioenergy production; water-energy nexus; resource recovery; wastewater treatment; advanced oxidation processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Devendra Saroj

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Guest Editor

Centre for Environmental Health and Engineering (CEHE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
Interests: water-energy-food-environment nexus; water and environmental engineering; biological wastewater treatment; water reuse; urban water management; sanitation; resource recovery from wastewater and organic waste
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water, a crucial natural resource that is indispensable for all life forms, food production, economic progress, and human well-being, faces significant challenges due to its limited availability. Only 3% of the global water supply constitutes freshwater, with only 0.5% accessible for practical use. Unfortunately, rapid economic growth, industrialization, and population expansion have deteriorated water quality, primarily through the discharge of industrial, agricultural, and domestic wastewater. This pollution, which contains various toxins including heavy metals, inorganic and organic compounds, and emerging contaminants, poses a serious threat to water bodies and ecosystem health. Despite efforts made through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the effective removal of contaminants, especially emerging contaminants (ECs) and heavy metals, remains a challenge. Consequently, researchers have been exploring novel treatment approaches to address this issue. In response, this Special Issue of the Water journal focuses on advancing our understanding of the development and application of innovative techniques for identifying and removing contaminants from aquatic environments.

Original research and review papers are encouraged, covering diverse areas such as the removal of heavy metals from aquatic environments; water and wastewater treatment utilizing physical, chemical, and biological methods; and the elimination of organic and inorganic contaminants. By addressing these critical research areas, this Special Issue aims to contribute to the preservation and restoration of water quality, ensuring its sustainability for future generations.

Dr. Mohammed J.K. Bashir
Dr. Devendra Saroj
Guest Editors

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

treatment of water and wastewater
removal of heavy metals
removal of inorganic contaminants
removal of organic contaminants
advanced oxidation processes (aops)
bioremediation
adsorption process
anammox
microalgae-based systems

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2205 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anaerobic Dynamic Membrane Bioreactors (AnDMBRs): Are They an Efficient Way to Treat High-Strength Wastewater?

by Mohammed Sameer Ghanim, Gülfem Soydemir, Fatih Yılmaz, N. Altınay Perendeci, Ahmet Karagündüz and Motasem Y. D. Alazaiza

Water 2025, 17(6), 787; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17060787 - 9 Mar 2025

Viewed by 792

Abstract

This study assesses the impact of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the performance of an anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) system using a carbon fabric membrane for treating high-strength wastewater. The evaluation of AnDMBR performance encompasses the removal of soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), biogas/methane production, and membrane fouling. The average influent sCOD concentration was 11,814 ± 1064 mg/L, with two HRT applications at 8 and 5 days and high biomass concentration (MLVSS 14,600 ± 500 mg/L). An impressive sCOD removal efficiency exceeding 98% was achieved throughout the operation period. The AnDMBR system exhibited the highest biogas production, reaching 4.33 ± 0.51 L/day, with a methane content of approximately 67.77 ± 2.9% during the 5-day HRT stage. Transmembrane pressure (TMP) increased gradually at the 8-day HRT stage, leading to membrane fouling, whereas fouling occurred more rapidly at the 5-day HRT stage. Biomass analysis showed minimal variations in MLVSS, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), and soluble microbial product (SMP) concentrations (protein and carbohydrate) across both HRT application stages. This study suggests that the AnDMBR system can be adopted effectively for treating high-strength wastewater, maintaining high COD removal efficiency and biogas production with 5-day HRT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Removal of Heavy Metals and Other Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions)

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21 pages, 3998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fly Ash Waste Conversion to Zeolite and Its Application for Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ Adsorption from Aqueous Solutions

by Mirela Alina Constantin, Lucian Alexandru Constantin, Florenta Daniela Constantinov, Valeriu Robert Badescu, Cristina Mihaela Nicolescu and Marius Bumbac

Water 2025, 17(4), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17040593 - 18 Feb 2025

Viewed by 545

Abstract

Adsorption methods represent a common practice used for heavy metals removal from aqueous solutions. As adsorbent material, zeolites have an excellent adsorption capacity and present low environmental impact. The zeolite used for this study was synthesized from fly ash, a residue generated by thermal power plants, considering the need to reduce fly ash deposits and transform it into useful materials as part of the circular economy. Fly ash conversion to zeolite was performed via a modified hydrothermal method. To investigate the synthetic zeolite structure Scanning Electronic Microscopy, Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were used. Chemical composition was revealed by X-ray Fluorescence and thermal behavior was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The influence of adsorbent dose and pH upon adsorption capacity of synthesized zeolite for Ni²⁺ and Cd²⁺ was investigated. The effect of contact time on the adsorption capacity of Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ was evaluated and it was found that the system reaches equilibrium after 30 min for Ni²⁺ and 60 min for Cd²⁺ due to the saturation of zeolite pores with metallic ions. It was found that the Langmuir model (Lineweaver-Burk equation) better describes the adsorption of both Ni²⁺ and Cd²⁺. The adsorption kinetics obeys the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (k₂ = 0.0851 g/mg min for Ni²⁺ and k₂ = 0.1780 g/mg min for Cd²⁺). The adsorption capacity of synthesized was found to be 13 mg/g for Ni²⁺ (initial Ni²⁺ solution concentration = 30 mg/L) and 17 mg/g for Cd²⁺ (initial Cd²⁺ solution concentration = 35 mg/L) at an adsorbent dose of 2 g/L and a contact time of 30 min. Reusability of the zeolite was also tested and it was found that it can be used for 5 cycles. The experimental study revealed that zeolite obtained from fly ash waste generated by a thermal plant represents a viable and sustainable alternative for removal Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ from aqueous solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Removal of Heavy Metals and Other Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions)

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14 pages, 1136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring and Studying the Behavior of Metals in an Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant in Italy

by Francesca Tuci, Alexandra Antal, Saer Doumett, Donatella Fibbi, Roberto Camisa, Elena Bettazzi, Ester Coppini, Daniele Daddi and Riccardo Gori

Water 2024, 16(22), 3164; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16223164 - 5 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1152

Abstract

Heavy metals represent a significant hazard in textile wastewater, posing a considerable risk to both the ecosystem and human health. The objective of this study was to analyze the removal efficiency of specific heavy metals in a large wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) located in Prato (Tuscany, Italy), where the main Italian textile district is based. To achieve this, the mass balance calculation approach was employed. Therefore, two monitoring campaigns were conducted, collecting wastewater and sludge samples in some specific sections of the WWTP. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, As, and Sn were consistently below the detection limits. A good removal efficiency was determined for Zn, Cu, Ba, Cr^tot, and Sb, in the range of 37–79%. These metals are predominantly present in particulate form, facilitating their removal through sedimentation. Conversely, boron is largely present in the dissolved phase, resulting in its complete release through the treated effluent. Subsequently, an excellent linear correlation was identified between the input load and the contaminant load removed. This demonstrated that the plant’s efficiency remains unaffected by an increase in the input load at the observed contaminant concentrations. Finally, a probability law was identified that demonstrates an excellent degree of approximation in representing inlet metal concentrations. The findings of this study indicate that the treatment systems employed by the WWTP are capable of effectively removing heavy metals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Removal of Heavy Metals and Other Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions)

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19 pages, 3431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Brushite as Adsorbent for the Removal of Anionic and Cationic Dyes Present in Aqueous Solutions

by Alfonso Talavera-Lopez, Antonio Mendes-Salas, Mercedes Salazar-Hernández, Alba N. Ardila A., Rosa Hernandez-Soto, Oscar Joaquín Solis-Marcial and Jose A. Hernández

Water 2024, 16(19), 2810; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192810 - 2 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1036

Abstract

Currently, water pollution caused by dyes is a serious problem since they are toxic and carcinogenic to living beings. To reduce the presence of these contaminants, natural adsorbents have been considered as they are easy to obtain, inexpensive, and have high removal efficiency. In this work, the adsorption process using natural brushite (nDCPD) was studied for the removal of phenol red (PR), achieving a removal rate of 99.15% and an adsorption capacity of 82.24 mg/g, and gentian violet (GV), achieving a removal rate of 97.03% and an adsorption capacity of 74.22 mg/g. Equilibrium adsorption occurs for both dyes in multiple layers on the surface. The adsorption process is spontaneous for both dyes. The kinetics of the adsorption process involve using a single active site on the surface for PR adsorption, while for GV, two active sites on the surface are required. Analysis via FTIR, EDS, and XRD revealed various mechanisms that intervene in the adsorption process of both dyes on the surface of nDCPD, such as electrostatic forces, functional groups, physisorption, and ion exchange. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Removal of Heavy Metals and Other Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions)

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16 pages, 2303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Synergistic Power of Rosehip Seed Powder and Aluminum Chloride in Steel Industry Wastewater Treatment

by Mohammed Shadi S. Abujazar, Sakine Ugurlu Karaagaç, Salem S. Abu Amr, Motasem Y. D. Alazaiza, Ahmed Albahnasavi and Dia Eddin Nassani

Water 2024, 16(19), 2770; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192770 - 29 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1049

Abstract

This study investigates the efficiency of a hybrid coagulation–flocculation process for the treatment of industrial wastewater from the steel industry. The novel method combines a natural coagulant, processed Rosehip Seed Powder (RSP), with a chemical coagulant, aluminum chloride (AlCl₃), across varying concentrations and pH levels. The study simulated the pH 8 conditions of iron and steel industrial wastewater and examined the removal of heavy metals, total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and ammonia–nitrogen (NH₃-N). At pH 8, the optimal coagulant dosage was determined to be 0.75:0.75 (g/g) of RSP/AlCl₃ powder, resulting in high removal efficiencies across several parameters: 88.29% for COD, 91.85% for color, 99% for TSS, 93.11% for NH₃-N, 94.3% for Mn, 98.5% for Fe, 96.7% for Zn, and 99.3% for Ni. The pH optimization demonstrated high removal efficiencies without pH adjudication. The removal of heavy metals at pH 8 demonstrated high efficiencies, with Mn, Fe, Zn, and Al achieving 99.00%, 90.6%, 95.73%, and 92.3%, respectively. These results suggest that no pH adjustment is required when using RSP/AlCl₃ for the treatment of iron and steel industry wastewater through the coagulation method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Removal of Heavy Metals and Other Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions)

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17 pages, 2331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cadmium Removal by Adsorption on Biochars Derived from Wood Industry and Craft Beer Production Wastes

by Daiana Simón, Cristina Palet and Adrián Cristóbal

Water 2024, 16(13), 1905; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16131905 - 3 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1653

Abstract

Cadmium pollution is a serious environmental issue that has an impact on both the ecosystem and human health. As a result, its removal from water is essential. Agro-industrial wastes are suggested as a sustainable adsorbent option, as they are among the most readily available renewable sources worldwide. Biochar is a carbonized biomass that has been shown to be a viable and novel adsorbent. This article compares the results of cadmium adsorption on biochars derived from wood industry and craft beer production wastes. Biochars were characterized before and after adsorption. Batch adsorption results of 0.18 mmol/L Cd(II) concentration solutions indicated adsorption percentages (A%) of 99.7% and 92.2% for sawdust biochar and barley biochar, respectively. For this cadmium concentration, the sawdust biochar presented an adsorption capacity (q_m) of 0.0172 mmol/L, while the barley biochar presented a value of 0.0159 mmol/L. The influence of initial Cd(II) concentration on single and multimetal solutions was studied, and a decrease in Cd(II) adsorption on sawdust biochar was observed in the presence of Ni(II) and Zn(II). The Freundlich isotherm model was found to be the best fit to the data for Cd(II) adsorption isotherms on both biochars. According to the results of this article, sawdust biochar has the best performance as an adsorbent and can be safely disposed of in building bricks at the end of its useful life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Removal of Heavy Metals and Other Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions)

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Review

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23 pages, 1997 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bibliometric Insights into Car Wash Wastewater Treatment Research: Trends and Perspectives

by Motasem Y. D. Alazaiza, Tharaa Mahmoud Alzghoul, Salem Abu Amr, Madhusudhan Bangalore Ramu and Dia Eddin Nassani

Water 2024, 16(14), 2034; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16142034 - 18 Jul 2024

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2133

Abstract

Car wash wastewater (CWW) poses a significant environmental danger due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD), heavy metals, and anionic surfactant complex composition, all of which can have an adverse effect on the environment. Even with the extensive research on CWW treatment, further study is necessary to improve our comprehension in this field. With an emphasis on CWW treatment processes and research trends, this study offers a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 208 articles from the Scopus database. The analysis reveals that more than 55.77% of the research publications were released within the last five years, suggesting that there is increasing interest in the treatment of CWW. According to the data, the most important journal in this field is Desalination and Water Treatment. China and India were major research contributors. The main research directions in this area are properly indicated by the frequently used keywords “carwash wastewater”, “electrocoagulation”, “wastewater treatment”, and “water reuse”, according to an analysis of the keywords. Electrocoagulation, coagulation, and adsorption are common methods that are gaining popularity. In recent years, the most often researched CWW contaminants included those measured by COD and heavy metals. The results of this research offer an overview of recent developments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Removal of Heavy Metals and Other Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions)

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