Sustainable Functional Porous Nanomaterials for Environmental Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Porous nanomaterials have emerged as an advanced class of materials known for their highly ordered, tunable pores and increased surface area, which make them suitable for a wide range of applications. They are used in water purification and wastewater treatment, bioremediation, air purification, gas separation, and environmental monitoring and sensing, showing their multidisciplinary application.

Industrial, agricultural, and microbial waste streams have become valuable feedstocks for producing sustainable, functional porous nanomaterials, contributing to the circular economy's goals of promoting sustainability and reducing waste generation. The selection of these waste streams has been found to influence both the porous structure and functionality of the resulting nanomaterials, thereby enhancing their efficiency.

Ongoing research in materials design and scalable synthetic methods aims to advance the development of porous materials for large-scale applications. This Topic seeks to explore opportunities in functional, sustainable porous nanomaterials and their advanced environmental applications.

Potential environmental application areas of focus include functional porous nanomaterials for, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Adsorption of toxic metals, organic dyes, pharmaceuticals, persistent organic pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
2. Photocatalysis for wastewater treatment, air purification, and degradation of pesticides, pharmaceuticals and dyes.
3. Membrane technology for desalination, water purification, industrial wastewater treatment and gas separation.
4. Environmental sensors for real-time monitoring of pollutants in water, air, and soil.
5. Environmental catalysis for industrial emission control, green chemical processes, and removal of harmful gases.

Dr. Tshimangadzo Munonde
Dr. Salatiel Da Silva
Dr. Kgabo Phillemon Matabola
Prof. Dr. Lawrence Mzukisi Madikizela
Topic Editors