Since the beginning of the 21st century, we have faced tremendous challenges related to the accessibility of clean drinking water and the safe disposal of wastewater without harming our water sources and the environment. In this context, wastewater treatment is essential for sustainable development and environmental protection as it improves water conservation, encourages water recycling, and enhances a balanced relationship between humans and nature.
The detection of a growing amount of harmful xenobiotic compounds, even at low concentrations (typically µg/L or ng/L), in aquatic environments represents a significant concern due to the uncertain impact they may have on ecosystems or human health. Xenobiotics encompass pharmaceuticals; steroids; hormones; personal care products; antiseptics; surfactants; flame-retardants; industrial additives; gasoline additives; and their metabolites or degradation products. Although conventional wastewater treatment technologies are efficient at removing organic pollutants, they have some shortcomings, including high energy demand and low capability to destroy these compounds. Therefore, the creation of efficient technologies to address this form of pollution is currently a focus of ongoing research. Catalytic methods.
Chemical oxidation processes have garnered more interest in comparison to chemical reduction for removing stubborn contaminants. However, chemical reduction has also been studied to a lesser degree and requires more research. Solar exposure is the primary abiotic pathway for removing pollutants in natural ecosystems. Photo(electro)catalysis relies on the utilization of eco-friendly reagents and catalysts, along with solar energy as a plentiful and sustainable energy source. Recently, researchers have shown interest in the use of catalysis and light as a promising alternative for wastewater treatment.
The Research Topic aims to gather the latest research, innovations, and advances in photo(electro)catalytic processes, including the methods employed to synthesize novel photo(electro)catalysts; the advanced techniques used to characterize photo(electro)catalysts; the mechanisms involved in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants; and the optimization of the photo(electro)catalytic systems for wastewater treatment and energy production. Additionally, submissions that consider the integration of photocatalysis with other treatment processes, as well as the environmental and economic impacts of photo(electro)catalytic wastewater treatment, are welcome.
We invite authors to submit original research and review manuscripts that will enhance our understanding of this emerging technology and its potential application in solutions that aim to mitigate the growing problem of wastewater pollution. This Research Topic covers, but is not limited to, the following topics:
• Synthesizing new photo(electro)catalysts,
• Characterizing them using advanced techniques,
• Understanding the mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, and
• Optimizing photo(electro)catalytic systems for wastewater treatment and energy production.
Submissions exploring the integration of photocatalysis with other treatment processes and examining the environmental and economic impacts of photo(electro)catalytic wastewater treatment are encouraged.
Keywords:
Advanced oxidation; Effluent quality; Energy production; Photo(Electro)catalysis; Pollutants; Reaction mechanisms; Solar-driven oxidation; Wastewater Treatment
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.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, we have faced tremendous challenges related to the accessibility of clean drinking water and the safe disposal of wastewater without harming our water sources and the environment. In this context, wastewater treatment is essential for sustainable development and environmental protection as it improves water conservation, encourages water recycling, and enhances a balanced relationship between humans and nature.
The detection of a growing amount of harmful xenobiotic compounds, even at low concentrations (typically µg/L or ng/L), in aquatic environments represents a significant concern due to the uncertain impact they may have on ecosystems or human health. Xenobiotics encompass pharmaceuticals; steroids; hormones; personal care products; antiseptics; surfactants; flame-retardants; industrial additives; gasoline additives; and their metabolites or degradation products. Although conventional wastewater treatment technologies are efficient at removing organic pollutants, they have some shortcomings, including high energy demand and low capability to destroy these compounds. Therefore, the creation of efficient technologies to address this form of pollution is currently a focus of ongoing research. Catalytic methods.
Chemical oxidation processes have garnered more interest in comparison to chemical reduction for removing stubborn contaminants. However, chemical reduction has also been studied to a lesser degree and requires more research. Solar exposure is the primary abiotic pathway for removing pollutants in natural ecosystems. Photo(electro)catalysis relies on the utilization of eco-friendly reagents and catalysts, along with solar energy as a plentiful and sustainable energy source. Recently, researchers have shown interest in the use of catalysis and light as a promising alternative for wastewater treatment.
The Research Topic aims to gather the latest research, innovations, and advances in photo(electro)catalytic processes, including the methods employed to synthesize novel photo(electro)catalysts; the advanced techniques used to characterize photo(electro)catalysts; the mechanisms involved in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants; and the optimization of the photo(electro)catalytic systems for wastewater treatment and energy production. Additionally, submissions that consider the integration of photocatalysis with other treatment processes, as well as the environmental and economic impacts of photo(electro)catalytic wastewater treatment, are welcome.
We invite authors to submit original research and review manuscripts that will enhance our understanding of this emerging technology and its potential application in solutions that aim to mitigate the growing problem of wastewater pollution. This Research Topic covers, but is not limited to, the following topics:
• Synthesizing new photo(electro)catalysts,
• Characterizing them using advanced techniques,
• Understanding the mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, and
• Optimizing photo(electro)catalytic systems for wastewater treatment and energy production.
Submissions exploring the integration of photocatalysis with other treatment processes and examining the environmental and economic impacts of photo(electro)catalytic wastewater treatment are encouraged.
Keywords:
Advanced oxidation; Effluent quality; Energy production; Photo(Electro)catalysis; Pollutants; Reaction mechanisms; Solar-driven oxidation; Wastewater Treatment
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.