Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.0
3.0
Journals
Water
Special Issues
Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment
water-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Water Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and 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: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 7775

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Qiao Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Interests: advanced oxidation technologies; water and wastewater treatment; emerging contaminants; functional materials; water toxicity
Dr. Huarui Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai, China
Interests: emerging contaminants; water/wastewater treatment; advanced oxidation; heterogeneous catalysis; nanomaterials; persulfates
Dr. Jialin Jia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
Interests: advanced oxidation technologies; water treatment; photocatalytic oxidation technology; persulfate oxidation technology; sterilization and disinfection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The escalation of water pollution and resource scarcity necessitates innovative solutions, with Advanced Oxidation Technologies (AOTs) offering transformative potential by leveraging reactive species to degrade persistent pollutants that are challenging to target with conventional water/wastewater treatment methods. While AOTs excel in environmental remediations, barriers like high energy demands, operational costs, and potential secondary pollution risks demand advancements in efficiency, scalability, and sustainability. Moreover, there remain obscurities regarding reaction mechanisms, including unclear radical/unradical regulation pathways, insufficient quantitative models for multi-factor interactions, and a lack of in situ characterization of dynamic interfacial processes.

We invite you to contribute to a Special Issue on Advanced Oxidation Technologies (AOTs) for Water and Wastewater Treatment. This Special Issue will highlight cutting-edge research that aims to optimize AOT performance through the development of novel materials, hybrid systems, and reactor designs, while addressing real-world complexities in industrial, municipal, and saline matrices. Key topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Catalytic Ozonation Processes;
  • Electro-Fenton, Photo-Fenton, and Heterogeneous Fenton Systems;
  • Photocatalytic/Electrocatalytic Oxidation Processes;
  • Noval catalyst and reactor designs;
  • Persulfate/Peroxymonosulfate/Permanganate/Perferrate Activation Strategies;
  • Catalytic Membrane Processes;
  • Generation mechanisms and quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS);
  • Plasma-driven water treatment technologies;
  • AOT–Bioremediation hybrid systems;
  • Machine Learning-driven AOP prediction and optimization.

We seek interdisciplinary contributions bridging fundamental science and practical applications, focusing on cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that support global water quality standards and circular economy goals. Submissions on emerging AOT innovations, process optimization, and sustainability strategies are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Qiao Wang
Dr. Huarui Li
Dr. Jialin Jia
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 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

  • advanced oxidation technologies
  • water treatment
  • pollutant removal
  • catalyst design
  • oxidation mechanisms

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.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 2693 KB  
Article
Enhanced Mass Transfer via Brush Electrode for Significantly Promoted Electrochemical Oxidation of Organic Pollutants
by Kai Wang, Guangsen Xia, Yonggang Jia, Yibao Wang, Lili Zhang, Shaoyan Wang, Xu Chai, Yang Zhou, Lin Cao, Zhibo Cheng, Haiyuan Liu, Maoqiu Ran, Haibo Xu, Yonghong Lu and Zhigang Gai
Water 2026, 18(9), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18091110 - 6 May 2026
Viewed by 559
Abstract
Electrochemical oxidation (EO) possesses numerous advantages and great potential for organic pollutant degradation. However, traditional plate anodes for EO are limited by pollutant mass transfer, leading to low oxidation efficiency and high energy consumption. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber brush (PAN-CFB) [...] Read more.
Electrochemical oxidation (EO) possesses numerous advantages and great potential for organic pollutant degradation. However, traditional plate anodes for EO are limited by pollutant mass transfer, leading to low oxidation efficiency and high energy consumption. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber brush (PAN-CFB) anode was employed to enhance mass transfer and improve oxidation efficiency. The oxidation capacity of the PAN-CFB anode was compared with those of boron-doped diamond (BDD) and Ti/IrO2-Ta2O5 plate anodes using oxalic acid (OA), phenol, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as target pollutants, respectively. Experimental results demonstrated that the 3D PAN-CFB anode exhibits superior direct oxidation capacity compared to BDD and the Ti/IrO2-Ta2O5 plate anode in degrading OA, which is attributed to the significantly enhanced mass transfer of OA toward the brush anode surface. Under a constant current of 400 mA for 240 min, the total organic carbon (TOC) removal from 50 mmol/L OA reached 90.5%, 57.5% and 6.6% for PAN-CFB, BDD and the Ti/IrO2-Ta2O5 anode, respectively, and the energy consumption followed the order of PAN-CFB (5.5~8.9 kWh/kgTOC) < BDD (11.2~19.3 kWh/kgTOC) < Ti/IrO2-Ta2O5 (76.1~120.7 kWh/kgTOC). However, the 3D PAN-CFB anode exhibited poor stability at high potential and failed to promote phenol and PFOA degradation due to the weak direct oxidation capacity toward the two pollutants and the poor generation capacity of reactive oxygen species, associated with its low oxygen evolution potential. Therefore, future efforts should focus on developing stable 3D brush electrodes with a higher oxygen evolution potential to enable non-selective oxidation of a broader range of pollutants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

20 pages, 6085 KB  
Article
A Novel Weather Generator and Soil Attribute Database for SWAT to Improve the Simulation Accuracy in the Heilongjiang Region of China
by Zhihao Zhang, Haorui Zhang, Xiaoying Yu, Chunyan Yang and Tong Zheng
Water 2026, 18(3), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030389 - 3 Feb 2026
Viewed by 659
Abstract
This study addresses the issue of missing basic data and insufficient accuracy in predicting runoff and non-point-source pollution in the Heilongjiang region of China using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Based on the China Ground Climate Data Daily Dataset (V3.0) [...] Read more.
This study addresses the issue of missing basic data and insufficient accuracy in predicting runoff and non-point-source pollution in the Heilongjiang region of China using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Based on the China Ground Climate Data Daily Dataset (V3.0) and SPAW soil characteristic calculation formula, and assisted by the Python V3.0 language for data processing and computation, new high-precision weather generators and soil attribute databases suitable for the Heilongjiang region of China were established. The weather generator is based on daily data and contains detailed meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, rainfall, etc., used to characterize the periodic changes in meteorological elements. And the differences and fluctuations outside this change curve were also retained in the basic construction of the weather generator. The soil database covers various parameters, such as soil type, texture, structure, nutrient content, organic matter content, etc., enabling the SWAT model to better simulate hydrological and pollutant transport processes in the soil. Additionally, point-source input data, including various industrial and domestic wastewater discharge situations, were collected and organized to improve data quality. Furthermore, a series of agricultural management measures were developed based on the use of fertilizers and pesticides for simulation, providing an important basis for analyzing non-point-source pollution using the SWAT model. By comparing the different results of the simulation using optimized databases, it is shown that the above work improved the simulation accuracy of the SWAT model in predicting runoff and pollution load in Heilongjiang, China. The NSE of runoff simulation increased from 0.923 to 0.988, and the NSE of ammonia nitrogen and CBOD simulation increased from 0.852 and 0.758 to 0.930 and 0.902, respectively. It is expected that these efforts will provide strong data support for subsequent research and provide a theoretical basis for government decision-makers to build scientifically rigorous and effective pollution control strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 6114 KB  
Article
Selective Degradation of Organic Pollutants via Peroxymonosulfate-Based Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Driven by Different Electrodes: Performance and Influencing Factors
by Chen Zhang, Guang-Guo Ying, Yong Feng and Jian-Liang Zhao
Water 2026, 18(3), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18030326 - 28 Jan 2026
Viewed by 911
Abstract
Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes based on peroxymonosulfate (PMS-EAOPs) have shown great promise for eliminating organic pollutants from water. However, earlier research primarily concentrated on pollutant degradation at the cathode, with little attention given to the anode’s role in PMS-EAOPs. In this work, we [...] Read more.
Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes based on peroxymonosulfate (PMS-EAOPs) have shown great promise for eliminating organic pollutants from water. However, earlier research primarily concentrated on pollutant degradation at the cathode, with little attention given to the anode’s role in PMS-EAOPs. In this work, we developed a PMS-EAOP system using nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) as the electrocatalyst and examined the degradation of pollutants (acetamiprid (ATP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)) at both the cathode and anode. Our findings indicate that SMX was rapidly degraded at both electrodes, while ATP was effectively broken down only at the cathode, demonstrating the selective nature of PMS-EAOP. At a voltage of −2 V and 2.5 mM PMS, the pseudo-first-order rate constant (kobs) for ATP at the cathode reached 0.122 min−1, with over 92% removal within 30 min. In contrast, the anode exhibited high selectivity, removing ~75% of SMX (kobs = 0.041 min−1) while less than 20% of ATP was degraded. Analysis of reactive oxygen species showed that hydroxyl and sulfate radicals were produced and contributed to pollutant degradation at the cathode. In contrast, selective oxidation occurred at the anode, likely driven by direct electrolysis-induced nonradical oxidation responsible for the selective degradation. Phosphates and bicarbonates significantly inhibited the degradation of pollutants in the PMS-EAOP process (31.7–76.4%). In contrast, chloride ions exhibited an electrode-dependent effect, with the anode being less susceptible to interference from common water anions. Overall, this study highlights that while PMS-EAOP can selectively remove contaminants, the influence of water matrix components must be taken into account when treating real wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5100 KB  
Article
Fe-Doped g-C3N4 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Brilliant Blue Dye
by Rongjun Su, Haoran Liang, Hao Jiang, Guangshan Zhang and Chunyan Yang
Water 2025, 17(22), 3220; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17223220 - 11 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1461
Abstract
Brilliant blue, as a pigment food additive, has all the characteristics of printing and dyeing wastewater and belongs to persistent and refractory organic compounds. The photocatalysis–Fenton reaction system consists of two parts: photocatalytic reaction and Fenton reaction. Electrons promote the decomposition of H [...] Read more.
Brilliant blue, as a pigment food additive, has all the characteristics of printing and dyeing wastewater and belongs to persistent and refractory organic compounds. The photocatalysis–Fenton reaction system consists of two parts: photocatalytic reaction and Fenton reaction. Electrons promote the decomposition of H2O2 to produce •OH. In addition, the effective separation of e- and h+ by light strengthens the direct oxidation of h+, and h+ reacts directly with OH− to produce •OH, which can further promote the removal of organic pollutants. In this paper, g-C3N4 and Fe/g-C3N4 photocatalysts were prepared by the thermal polycondensation method. Fe/g-C3N4 of 15 wt% can reach 98.59% under the best degradation environment, and the degradation rate of g-C3N4 is only 7.6% under the same conditions. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was further studied. Through active species capture experiments, it is known that •OH and •O2− are the main active species in the system, and the action intensity of •OH is greater than that of •O2−. The degradation reaction mechanism is that H2O2 combines with Fe2+ in Fe/g-C3N4 to generate a large amount of •OH and Fe3+, and the combination of Fe-N bonds accelerates the cycle of Fe3+/Fe2+ and promotes the formation of •OH, thereby accelerating the degradation of target pollutants. •O2− can reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, Fe2+ reacts with H2O2 to produce •OH, which promotes degradation, and •O2− itself also plays a role in degradation. In addition, under the optimal experimental conditions obtained by response surface experiments, the fitting degree of first-order reaction kinetics is 0.96642, and the fitting degree of second-order reaction kinetics is 0.57884. Therefore, this reaction is more in line with first-order reaction kinetics. The adsorption rate is only proportional to the concentration of Fe/g-C3N4. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 2613 KB  
Review
Multidimensional Nanoconfined Catalysts in Advanced Oxidation Processes: Mechanisms, Performance, and Limitations
by Yunqian Han, Yiwen Peng, Min Huang, Aobo He, Zhenshen Li, Qiao Wang and Fuyi Cui
Water 2026, 18(11), 1278; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18111278 - 25 May 2026
Abstract
Water pollution caused by the continuous emergence of organic contaminants poses increasing challenges to conventional treatment technologies. Although advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on nanoconfined materials show great promise, their practical application remains constrained by short radical lifetimes, mass transfer limitations, and catalyst [...] Read more.
Water pollution caused by the continuous emergence of organic contaminants poses increasing challenges to conventional treatment technologies. Although advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on nanoconfined materials show great promise, their practical application remains constrained by short radical lifetimes, mass transfer limitations, and catalyst deactivation. This review systematically summarizes the critical role of nanoconfinement effects in AOPs. Through size exclusion and electrostatic regulation, confined spaces promote reactant enrichment and interference exclusion, while confined mass transfer and capillary-driven effects accelerate reaction kinetics. Particular emphasis is placed on multidimensional nanoconfined systems, ranging from zero-dimensional to three-dimensional structures and catalytic membranes, and on how structural design improves reaction microenvironments and active-site accessibility. The synergistic integration of confined structures with external fields, such as electric fields, is further discussed, highlighting their ability to regulate the electronic structure of active sites and shift reaction pathways from non-selective radical oxidation to efficient and highly selective non-radical routes. By optimizing parameters such as pH and catalyst-to-oxidant ratio, nanoconfined systems can achieve efficient pollutant degradation under near-neutral conditions while maintaining strong anti-interference capability and stability in real water matrices containing natural organic matter and inorganic ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 2338 KB  
Review
Electrochemical Ammonia Oxidation in Water Treatment: A Comprehensive Review on Mechanisms, Catalysts, and Implementation Challenges
by Xuanxu Shen and Fang Ma
Water 2025, 17(21), 3106; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17213106 - 30 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3560
Abstract
The discharge of ammonia-rich wastewater poses significant threats to water quality and ecosystem health, driving the need for efficient and sustainable treatment technologies. The electrochemical ammonia oxidation reaction (eAOR) has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional biological and physicochemical methods, offering advantages [...] Read more.
The discharge of ammonia-rich wastewater poses significant threats to water quality and ecosystem health, driving the need for efficient and sustainable treatment technologies. The electrochemical ammonia oxidation reaction (eAOR) has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional biological and physicochemical methods, offering advantages such as in situ oxidant generation, tunable product selectivity, and applicability under challenging water matrices. This comprehensive review systematically examines the mechanisms, catalyst design, and environmental factors influencing eAOR performance. Two primary pathways are detailed: direct eAOR, involving stepwise dehydrogenation of NH3 on the electrode surface, and indirect eAOR, mediated by electrogenerated reactive chlorine species (RCS). The mechanisms—including the Oswin-Salomon and Gerischer-Mauerer pathways for direct oxidation, as well as breakpoint chlorination and radical-mediated routes for indirect oxidation—are critically discussed alongside experimental and theoretical evidence. Recent advances in electrocatalyst development are highlighted, covering noble metals, non-noble transition metal oxides, alloys, and hybrid materials, with an emphasis on enhancing activity, selectivity toward N2, and durability. Key operational parameters such as pH, chloride concentration, and coexisting ions are analyzed for their impact on reaction kinetics and byproduct formation. Finally, the review identifies current challenges—including catalyst poisoning, toxic byproduct generation, and scalability—and outlines future research directions aimed at advancing eAOR toward energy-efficient, resource-recovering water treatment systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop