About this Research Topic
The term emerging organic pollutants (EOPs) is used to classify chemicals falling out of standard regulatory and monitoring programs. EOPs represent a wide group of both natural and synthetic chemicals that are present or transformed to new chemical compounds with harmful properties in water systems. EOPs can also be regarded as new generation active chemicals with highly variable applications such as pesticides, surfactants, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products, among others. These pollutants can often be released into the environment because they can evade traditional treatment processes. In addition, the direct detection of these pollutants can be challenging since they normally occur at low concentrations. Crucially, because of the "emerging" nature of these pollutants, new methodologies to detect, degrade and remove EOPs from environmental water are constantly required.
This aim of this collection is to highlight the development of effective degradation or removal technologies of EOPs, as well as the application of bio-based sorbents for monitoring the occurrence of EOPs in water systems. Various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are known to generate strongly oxidative species, such as hydroxy radicals, that can effectively degrade EOPs. Similarly, organic photocatalysts and photosensitizers can be utilized to generate reactive radical species for effective water treatment applications. Adsorption technology, on the other hand, is widely studied due to the many attractive properties and the possibility of using natural products as renewable adsorbents or bio-based nanomaterials with high and tunable adsorption capacity. However, there are some considerations on the safe disposal, cost estimation and handling of spent adsorbents loaded with contaminants demonstrated during the development of new materials.
This Research Topic is centered on the application of potentially biodegradable adsorbent materials and natural photosensitizers for the removal, catalytic oxidation and photodegradation of emerging organic pollutants in water systems. Also relevant are methods to detect and quantify low concentrations of EOPs in water systems. We welcome high-quality original research and review articles on topics related to the occurrence and removal of EOPs in water, including but not limited to the following areas:
• Emerging pollutants
• Adsorptive removal
• Biodegradable adsorbents
• Bio-based nanomaterials
• Photodegradation
• Advanced oxidation processes
• Biochar
• Biopolymers
• Hydrogels
This aim of this collection is to highlight the development of effective degradation or removal technologies of EOPs, as well as the application of bio-based sorbents for monitoring the occurrence of EOPs in water systems. Various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are known to generate strongly oxidative species, such as hydroxy radicals, that can effectively degrade EOPs. Similarly, organic photocatalysts and photosensitizers can be utilized to generate reactive radical species for effective water treatment applications. Adsorption technology, on the other hand, is widely studied due to the many attractive properties and the possibility of using natural products as renewable adsorbents or bio-based nanomaterials with high and tunable adsorption capacity. However, there are some considerations on the safe disposal, cost estimation and handling of spent adsorbents loaded with contaminants demonstrated during the development of new materials.
This Research Topic is centered on the application of potentially biodegradable adsorbent materials and natural photosensitizers for the removal, catalytic oxidation and photodegradation of emerging organic pollutants in water systems. Also relevant are methods to detect and quantify low concentrations of EOPs in water systems. We welcome high-quality original research and review articles on topics related to the occurrence and removal of EOPs in water, including but not limited to the following areas:
• Emerging pollutants
• Adsorptive removal
• Biodegradable adsorbents
• Bio-based nanomaterials
• Photodegradation
• Advanced oxidation processes
• Biochar
• Biopolymers
• Hydrogels
Keywords: Emerging pollutants, Water treatment, Adsorption, Degradation, Photosensitization, Advanced Oxidation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
