Functionalized Materials for Environmental Applications

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

As Topic Editors, we would like to invite you to contribute a paper to the Topic “Functionalized Materials for Environmental Applications”. Based on your expertise in this research field, we believe that you could offer a manuscript that meets the journal’s criteria for significance and scientific excellence. This Topic is dedicated to the synthesis, characterization, and application of different nanomaterials (noble metal nanoparticles, metal oxides, quantum dots, etc.) for environmental purposes such as the sensing, degradation and/or removal of different toxic analytes. The employment of these nanomaterials can be combined with hosting materials, such as hydrogels, sol–gels, aero-gels, polymers or other kind of matrices. Experimental and theoretical scientific research in environmental applications are welcome.

Dr. Luca Burratti
Prof. Dr. Iole Venditti
Dr. Paolo Prosposito
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.5	2011	16 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Chemistry chemistry	2.4	3.9	2019	15 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Environments environments	3.7	5.7	2014	19.2 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Gels gels	5.3	7.6	2015	13.5 Days	CHF 2100	Submit
Materials materials	3.2	6.4	2008	15.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.3	9.2	2010	14 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Polymers polymers	4.9	9.7	2009	14.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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All Applied Sciences Chemistry Gels Nanomaterials Polymers Environments Materials

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22 pages, 3029 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Remediation of Arsenate-Contaminated Groundwater Using a Graphene Oxide-Supported Cu-NPs/UiO-66(Zr)-NH₂ Nanocomposite

by Faten M. Ali Zainy, Doaa S. Al-Raimi and Amr A. Yakout

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(8), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16080462 - 14 Apr 2026

Abstract

Arsenic contamination, mainly in the arsenate (As(V)) form, continues to pose a serious threat to groundwater quality worldwide due to its long-term stability and toxicity at very low levels. Herein, we demonstrate, for the first time, a three-dimensional graphene oxide-based nanocomposite composed of [...] Read more.

Arsenic contamination, mainly in the arsenate (As(V)) form, continues to pose a serious threat to groundwater quality worldwide due to its long-term stability and toxicity at very low levels. Herein, we demonstrate, for the first time, a three-dimensional graphene oxide-based nanocomposite composed of Cu nanoparticle-doped, amino-functionalized UiO-66 (Cu/UiO-66-NH₂) anchored on a graphene oxide framework (Cu/UiO-66-NH₂@GO) as a novel and efficient nanosorbent for the rapid removal of As(V) in groundwater-like solutions. The nanocomposite was characterized by SEM and HRTEM to confirm the hybrid structure and by XRD, N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms, and XPS to investigate crystallinity, porosity, and surface chemistry. The derived material exhibited a highly dispersed morphology and performed rapid arsenate solid-phase extraction to attain equilibration within 10 min and was effective for a wide pH range of 2–11. The best fit for the kinetic profiles was provided by the pseudo-second-order model. Interestingly, the maximum adsorption capacity of 747.9 mg g⁻¹ at pH 6.8 was achieved, demonstrating the benefits of the complementary pairing of dispersive GO sheets and Zr-MOF adsorption domains with Cu-derived active sites. Mechanistically, the enhanced uptake is ascribed to a combination of effects, including electrostatic pre-concentration, ligand exchange, and inner-sphere complexation at metal-oxo nodes; spectroscopic analysis (XPS and FTIR) suggests that the majority of arsenate is immobilized via a strong Zr-O-As bond at coordinatively unsaturated Zr centers, which is in line with t-ZrO₂-like surface domains formed within the nanocomposite. The embedded GO support inhibits further framework interpenetration and enhances active site availability and mass transport, leading to fast and high-capacity arsenate capture in groundwater samples with related conditions. Taken together, this work presents a powerful design concept that integrates unique GO-supported, Cu-modified UiO-66-NH₂ with Zr-O binding motifs to afford high-rate remediation nanocomposites, providing an excellent platform for next-generation arsenate remediation materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functionalized Materials for Environmental Applications)

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21 pages, 11243 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Anisotropic Graphene Aerogels with Integrated Metal–Polyphenol Networks and Thermoresponsive Functionality for Recyclable Photocatalytic Wastewater Treatment

by Na Zhang, Guifeng Tang, Nan Xiang, Huajun Sun, Yanan Hu and Chuanxing Wang

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(7), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16070415 - 30 Mar 2026

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Abstract

Current strategies for treating organic dye wastewater are shifting from single-function removal processes and catalytic degradation methods toward more integrated treatment approaches. This study proposes a multifunctional composite integrating adsorption–photodegradation–intelligent recovery for photodegradation and recovery of methylene blue-contaminated wastewater. By optimizing the preparation [...] Read more.

Current strategies for treating organic dye wastewater are shifting from single-function removal processes and catalytic degradation methods toward more integrated treatment approaches. This study proposes a multifunctional composite integrating adsorption–photodegradation–intelligent recovery for photodegradation and recovery of methylene blue-contaminated wastewater. By optimizing the preparation process to precisely control the pore size and arrangement of the aerogel, a hierarchical porous framework with a high specific surface area is formed, featuring efficient mass transfer and ultra-multiple loading sites. The graphene framework enhances visible-light absorption by optimizing TiO₂ loading, agglomeration behavior and addressing detachable defects through a metal–polyphenol network. After 60 min of illumination, the degradation efficiency exceeds 99.5%, demonstrating superior cycling stability. After 100 cycles, the photocatalytic efficiency remains above 97%, showcasing excellent durability. Furthermore, the in situ polymerized thermoresponsive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) composite exhibits smart responsiveness, enabling reversible temperature-responsive adsorption–desorption behavior within PNIPAm’s LCST range. with an adsorption capacity of 28,000 mg/g at LCST. Heating above LCST desorbs 90.2% of the wastewater, and adsorption stability remains above 98% after 100 thermal cycles, resolving operational challenges in mechanical wastewater recovery. The synergistic integration of an anisotropic porous structure, stable TiO₂ loading, and thermal responsiveness provides an efficient platform for integrated adsorption and recovery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functionalized Materials for Environmental Applications)

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17 pages, 30010 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Zeolite from Fly Ash and Hollow Glass Microspheres for Cl⁻ Ion Adsorption

by Shiyu Wang, Rui Yang, Liguo Chen, Xihao Wang, Yuhao Liu, Ranran Zhou, Jing Song, Qijie Jin, Changcheng Zhou and Haitao Xu

Environments 2026, 13(3), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030126 - 24 Feb 2026

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Abstract

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of zeolites is a common synthesis technology for zeolites. Las-NaP1 zeolite was synthesized with fly ash (FA) as the silica-alumina source under low-alkalinity conditions for aqueous adsorption. Furthermore, H-NaP1 modified zeolite, a high-efficiency chloride ion (Cl⁻) adsorbent, was [...] Read more.

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of zeolites is a common synthesis technology for zeolites. Las-NaP1 zeolite was synthesized with fly ash (FA) as the silica-alumina source under low-alkalinity conditions for aqueous adsorption. Furthermore, H-NaP1 modified zeolite, a high-efficiency chloride ion (Cl⁻) adsorbent, was fabricated using hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) and FA as a silica-alumina source. The structure of the material was characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, XPS, FT-IR, Zeta, and other techniques. Effects of the synthesis process and adsorption conditions on the adsorption performance of Cl⁻ and its mechanism were systematically studied. The maximum adsorption capacity of H-NaP1 for Cl⁻ (193.57 mg/g) is 12 times that of Las-NaP1 (15.48 mg/g). The adsorption process conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model. The addition of HGMs effectively inhibited the agglomeration of zeolite particles. This research provided a new idea for the synthesis of efficient dechlorination materials with low alkali and realized the high-value-added utilization of FA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functionalized Materials for Environmental Applications)

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21 pages, 2852 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Carbon-Modified Attapulgite Composite for Rapid Rhodamine B Degradation: High Adsorption Capacity and Photo-Fenton Efficiency

by Naveed Karim, Tin Kyawoo, Saeed Ahmed, Weiliang Tian, Huiyu Li and Yongjun Feng

Materials 2026, 19(3), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19030554 - 30 Jan 2026

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Abstract

A carbon-modified attapulgite composite (C-AATP@CTAB) was synthesized via the hydrothermal method using citric acid as the carbon source and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surface modifier for efficient rhodamine B (Rh-B) removal. Carbon modification elevated the composite’s specific surface area (212 m² [...] Read more.

A carbon-modified attapulgite composite (C-AATP@CTAB) was synthesized via the hydrothermal method using citric acid as the carbon source and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surface modifier for efficient rhodamine B (Rh-B) removal. Carbon modification elevated the composite’s specific surface area (212 m²/g) and negative surface charge (−38.21 mV), significantly enhancing dye adsorption capacity to 666.66 mg/g—nearly double that of unmodified ATP variants (360.4–386.8 mg/g). Kinetic studies confirmed pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics, attributed to hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions between Rh-B and the composite. Under photo-Fenton conditions, C-AATP@CTAB achieved 99.8% Rh-B degradation within 20 min, demonstrating superior catalytic performance in heterogeneous Fenton/photo-Fenton systems. This work establishes a low-cost, high-efficiency adsorbent-catalyst hybrid derived from low-grade attapulgite, offering promising avenues for sustainable wastewater treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functionalized Materials for Environmental Applications)

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