Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.7
3.4
Journals
Processes
Special Issues
Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies
share announcement

Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Green Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2026) | Viewed by 7208

Editors

Prof. Dr. Jie Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China
Interests: pressure-driven membrane separation processes; adsorption; testing strips and purification medical devices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhuofan Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, No.23 Huangpu Road, 430010 Wuhan, China
Interests: membrane separation processes; heavy metal and emerging pollutant removal; sediment and contaminated water treatment; water quality monitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water monitoring and treatment technologies play pivotal roles in guaranteeing water safety and fostering sustainable development. The evolution of monitoring strategies and treatment technologies (e.g., the monitoring of water environments, the removal of contaminants, the integration of diverse treatment processes in water treatment, etc.) has driven innovation and optimization across various facets of water management. However, to enable a more harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, efforts are still needed to accomplish the ultimate goal of pollution interception and emission reduction through more ecological and systematic approaches.

This Special Issue titled “Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies” seeks novel and high-impact research pieces with particular interests in the monitoring of water environments, the removal of contaminants from water, and highly effective water treatment integration systems using more ecological and systematic approaches. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Water environmental monitoring and early warning systems.
  • Aquatic ecological survey and assessment.
  • Emerging materials and technologies for heavy metal removal.
  • Advanced adsorption and separation processes for emerging pollutants.
  • Developments in technologies and integrated processes of sediment and contaminated water.

Dr. Jie Gao
Dr. Zhuofan Gao
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes 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 2400 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 environmental monitoring
  • water purification technologies
  • heavy metal and emerging pollutant removal
  • adsorption
  • separation processes
  • sediment and contaminated water treatment

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 (7 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

18 pages, 11313 KB  
Article
Design and Implementation of an Automated Online Liquid Scintillation Monitoring Process for Tritium in Nuclear Power Plant Liquid Effluents
by Jie Ren, Peng Wang, Ao-Tian Gu, Chun-Hui Gong and Yi Yang
Processes 2026, 14(16), 2643; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14162643 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 177
Abstract
Real-time monitoring of radioactive liquid effluents from nuclear power plants (NPPs) is essential for environmental safety assurance, yet existing liquid scintillation counting (LSC) instruments are bulky (>200 kg), laboratory-bound, and incapable of autonomous online deployment. This paper presents the design and implementation of [...] Read more.
Real-time monitoring of radioactive liquid effluents from nuclear power plants (NPPs) is essential for environmental safety assurance, yet existing liquid scintillation counting (LSC) instruments are bulky (>200 kg), laboratory-bound, and incapable of autonomous online deployment. This paper presents the design and implementation of a fully automated online LSC monitoring process integrating seawater sampling, distillation pre-treatment, liquid scintillator mixing, dual photomultiplier tube (PMT) coincidence detection, field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based digital signal processing, and 4G remote data transmission in a single portable unit weighing 21.59 kg. The automated process executes a complete sample-to-result cycle in approximately 45 min without human intervention. The signal processing chain comprises a dual-PMT coincidence system, a custom two-stage pre-amplifier, a 14-bit 40 MSPS analogue-to-digital converter (ADC; AD9245, Analog Devices, Norwood, MA, USA), and a five-stage FPGA pipeline implementing anti-coincidence rejection, pulse amplitude discrimination, charge comparison method (CCM) waveform discrimination, and convolutional neural network (CNN)-based alpha/beta classification achieving 97.4% accuracy on a Geant4-simulated test set. System performance was validated against a PerkinElmer 1220 QUANTULUS reference spectrometer across a five-point calibration range (0–400 Bq/L; R2 = 0.9987, recovery 99.4–101.6%), confirmed via third-party environmental testing (−10 °C to +50 °C, GB/T 2423.1-2008), and verified in field measurements at Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. The experimentally determined system background is (1.83 ± 0.12) cpm; the calculated minimum detectable activity (MDA) for tritium is 0.073 Bq/mL at 30 min counting time (η = 3.4%, V = 10 mL, Ts = 1800 s per the Currie formulation), satisfying the GB 14587 (the Chinese national standard: Limits of Radioactivity for Liquid Effluents from Nuclear Power Plant) regulatory reference limit of 0.5 Bq/mL with a 7× safety margin. The proposed system is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first reported instrument combining full process automation (including distillation pre-treatment), single-person portability, and real-time 4G remote data transmission for continuous NPP liquid effluent surveillance in high-salinity seawater environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 707 KB  
Article
Oxidation of Organic Matter in Wastewater Applying Selective Ionic Flow Cells (SIFCs) to Produce Gaseous Hydrogen
by Juan José Lozada-Castro, Jhon David Cueltan-Solarte and Carlos Alberto Guerrero-Fajardo
Processes 2026, 14(11), 1730; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14111730 - 26 May 2026
Viewed by 311
Abstract
Applying selective iconic flow cells, we studied the degradation of organic matter, using urea as a reference pattern to a concentration of 10% and domestic residual waters taken from a characteristic flow of water in the Colombian city of Pasto. The experiments were [...] Read more.
Applying selective iconic flow cells, we studied the degradation of organic matter, using urea as a reference pattern to a concentration of 10% and domestic residual waters taken from a characteristic flow of water in the Colombian city of Pasto. The experiments were performed in two hours, and we carried out the analysis in different stages. To assess the chemical demand of oxygen (COD) and to measure the quantity of produced hydrogen by selective ionic flow cells (SIFCs), the monitoring system Mhydros was used. Furthermore, a photovoltaic cell of 100 watts was used as the energy resource for the organic matter oxidation. The results point out that the SIFCs do degrade the organic matter by 64.3% wt and produce hydrogen with an electrical efficiency of 104.7% in two hours. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2046 KB  
Article
Untangling the Links Between Microbial Activity and Water Quality Dynamics in a Drinking Water Reservoir via Multivariate Analyses
by Quanhong Li, Shuli Liu, Zhuofan Gao, Dongdong Cui, Zheng Li, He Qin and Zhuo Huang
Processes 2026, 14(10), 1526; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14101526 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 671
Abstract
Conventional physicochemical parameter-based monitoring fails to provide real-time early warning of microbial risks in drinking water sources, highlighting the critical necessity to unravel the inherent associations between microbial activity and water quality dynamics. This study integrated a domestically developed microbial enzymatic analyzer with [...] Read more.
Conventional physicochemical parameter-based monitoring fails to provide real-time early warning of microbial risks in drinking water sources, highlighting the critical necessity to unravel the inherent associations between microbial activity and water quality dynamics. This study integrated a domestically developed microbial enzymatic analyzer with multivariate analyses to assess real-time microbial activity in a complex reservoir. Measurements of microbial indicators and physicochemical parameters were conducted at eight sites during dry and wet seasons, plus six months of continuous monitoring at a polluted tributary site. Key findings: (1) Water quality showed clear spatiotemporal variation, worse in the wet season than the dry season, with tributaries more polluted than mainstream, and downstream better than upstream; (2) Microbial activity exhibited spatial heterogeneity, with a significant positive correlation between E. coli and Enterococcus (EC); (3) Microbial activity responded to key water quality indicators, and both E. coli and EC correlated positively with NH3-N. EC also correlated positively with TP. In summary, this study reveals a mechanism-based link between microbial activity and key water quality parameters, providing a theoretical foundation for a microbial-response-centered early warning model. This marks a shift from conventional reactive monitoring to proactive risk management for drinking water safety, offering a new paradigm with ecological indication and practical value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3344 KB  
Article
Mechanisms of Enhancing Tetracycline Oxidation in Wastewater by Ozone Micro-Nano Bubbles
by Ruiyuan Li, Tianzhi Wang, Hangjia Zhao, Jinxin Chen, Ci Yang and Fiallos Manuel
Processes 2026, 14(7), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr14071093 - 28 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 747
Abstract
To address the low efficiency of tetracycline (TC) ozonation caused by low ozone solubility, short aqueous half-life, and mass-transfer limitations, an ozone micro-nano bubble (O3-MNBs) oxidation system was designed and systematically compared with conventional ozone sparging (Conv-O3). Thus, this [...] Read more.
To address the low efficiency of tetracycline (TC) ozonation caused by low ozone solubility, short aqueous half-life, and mass-transfer limitations, an ozone micro-nano bubble (O3-MNBs) oxidation system was designed and systematically compared with conventional ozone sparging (Conv-O3). Thus, this study assessed the bubble size distribution, zeta potential, ozone dissolution and decay behaviors in water, ·OH concentration, and TC oxidation products, elucidating the degradation pathways and underlying mechanisms enabled by O3-MNBs. Relative to Conv-O3, O3-MNBs increased the steady-state dissolved ozone concentration by 2.57–4.33 times, reduced the ozone decay rate constant by 41.3%, and enhanced ·OH generation by 2.3 times. TC degradation in the O3-MNB system exhibited a distinct two-stage kinetic behavior, following second-order kinetics in the initial period (0–30 s) and first-order kinetics thereafter (30–120 s). Accordingly, the TC removal efficiency of O3-MNBs reached 96.25% within 120 s, which was 81.25% higher than that of Conv-O3. Notably, TC removal under Conv-O3 obeyed first-order kinetics throughout, with an apparent rate constant only 7.14% of that obtained with O3-MNBs. These improvements were attributed to the sustained and efficient supply of oxidants, high dissolved ozone and ·OH radicals, promoting the conversion of TC intermediates toward low m/z small-molecule end products, with greater ring opening and skeletal fragmentation. Our findings suggest that the enhanced biodegradability results in a markedly reduced burden and environmental risk for subsequent biological or advanced treatment processes. Therefore, this study highlights the potential of O3-MNBs to enhance ozone utilization and oxidation intensity, providing mechanistic insights and technical support for rapid pretreatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

10 pages, 6321 KB  
Article
Novel Preparation and Characterization of an Organic-Vermiculite Intercalated by Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide
by Liang Zhang, Ben Wang, Xiaomei Shao and Wei Han
Processes 2025, 13(12), 3979; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13123979 - 9 Dec 2025
Viewed by 765
Abstract
A novel and rapid ball-milling approach was developed in this study to efficiently intercalate hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA-Br) into vermiculite (VMT) within only 15 min. The raw granular VMT (2–3 mm) was first ground into fine powder using an airflow pulverizer. A suspension containing [...] Read more.
A novel and rapid ball-milling approach was developed in this study to efficiently intercalate hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA-Br) into vermiculite (VMT) within only 15 min. The raw granular VMT (2–3 mm) was first ground into fine powder using an airflow pulverizer. A suspension containing VMT and HDTMA-Br (1 CEC) in deionized water was then subjected to planetary ball milling at 450 r/min (25 °C), followed by washing and drying to obtain organo-vermiculite (OVMT) with a particle size of 44–5 µm. X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis analyses confirmed successful intercalation, with the basal spacing d(001) expanding from 1.46 nm to 4.51 nm. Transmission Electron Microscopy observations further revealed partial delamination of lamellar structures and a pronounced reduction in particle size, supporting the structural reorganization induced by the mechanochemical process. In addition, nitrogen adsorption analysis showed that the BET surface area decreased by 4.05 m2·g−1, while the average pore diameter increased by 3.2 nm, indicating the development of a more hydrophobic interlayer environment. Overall, this approach offers a practical route for producing organophilic silicate materials and shows strong potential for wastewater treatment applications, particularly for the adsorption of organic pollutants and heavy-metal ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 5351 KB  
Article
Research on the Application of Graphene Oxide-Reinforced SiO2 Corrosion-Resistant Coatings in the Long-Term Protection of Water Treatment Facilities
by Youhua Zhang, Zewen Zhu, Huijie Zou, Li Dai, Huiting Liu, Yao Rong, Xizheng Chang, Chundi Zheng and Wei Han
Processes 2025, 13(9), 2938; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13092938 - 15 Sep 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1208
Abstract
The reaction tank of process wastewater, as one of the key pieces of equipment for wastewater treatment, is exposed to an acidic and alkaline wastewater immersion environment for a long time and is prone to the influence of complex ions in water, resulting [...] Read more.
The reaction tank of process wastewater, as one of the key pieces of equipment for wastewater treatment, is exposed to an acidic and alkaline wastewater immersion environment for a long time and is prone to the influence of complex ions in water, resulting in concrete shedding and steel bar corrosion, which seriously affect service performance. To address the issue of ionic erosion in process wastewater reaction tanks, a silicon–oxygen grid substrate was constructed with ethyl orthosilicate, and graphene oxide was used as the corrosion-resistant functional component to prepare GO/SiO2 corrosion-resistant films under acid-catalyzed conditions. Extreme corrosion environments were designed to evaluate the corrosion resistance of GO/SiO2 films. The results showed that the permeability of the uncoated samples decreased significantly, and the ion concentration leached in the corrosive medium was higher. The permeability of the GO/SiO2-coated samples did not decrease significantly, and the ion leaching concentration in the corrosive medium gradually decreased with the increase in GO content, verifying the positive correlation between GO content and corrosion resistance and GO’s use in the field of corrosion resistance in water treatment facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2715 KB  
Article
Influence of Effluent Quality Parameters on Daphnia spp. Overgrowth in an Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant: A Multiyear Case Study Analysis
by Pedro Esperanço, Rômulo Egito, Verónica Oliveira, António Luís Amaral and Carla Rodrigues
Processes 2025, 13(4), 1164; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13041164 - 11 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a crucial role in treating sewage, which undergoes multiple treatment stages to ensure a safe treated effluent. However, any interference during these stages can compromise the final effluent quality. Such is the case of the overgrowth of the [...] Read more.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a crucial role in treating sewage, which undergoes multiple treatment stages to ensure a safe treated effluent. However, any interference during these stages can compromise the final effluent quality. Such is the case of the overgrowth of the microcrustacean Daphnia spp., known to inhabit WWTPs, but with its presence in the decantation stage negatively impacting effluent clarification and further disinfection. This study aimed to evaluate how the effluent quality parameters influence the occurrence of Daphnia spp. in the secondary decanter of a WWTP. Wastewater monitoring data collected from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed. Firstly, as the COVID-19 pandemic occurred during the studied period, it was assessed whether the quality and load of the raw wastewater changed. Subsequently, an analysis was carried out using multivariate statistical methods for all the steps of WWTP. Comparing the periods before and during the pandemic, the raw wastewater volume decreased by 19.58%, and the BOD, COD, and TSS decreased by 37.78%, 16.86%, and 35.75%, respectively. These were the parameters affected the most. The statistical analysis revealed correlations between the presence of Daphnia spp. and specific effluent quality parameters, including raw wastewater BOD values below 500 mg L−1, treated effluent BOD values below 13 mg L−1, and pH levels exceeding 7.3. Additionally, BOD and pH were highlighted as critical parameters influencing their presence or absence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Water Monitoring and Treatment Technologies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop