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Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Aspects in Colloid and Interface Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 16401

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Dr. Deling Yuan

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School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
Interests: advanced oxidation processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Shoufeng Tang

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Guest Editor

School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Interests: advanced oxidation processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the development of industrialization, environmental pollution problems are becoming increasingly severe. All forms of pollutants (organics, heavy metals, and microplastics) are discharged into the environment, polluting water bodies, atmosphere, and soil, which results in seriously damaging ecological environments and impacts human life. Various environmental remediation technologies, such as physical, chemical, and biological methods, have been researched and applied for removing contaminants and remediating ecological environment. In addition, recycling substances and energy from pollutants is becoming increasingly important from the point of view of resources.

Previously, we published the Special Issue “https://www.mdpi.com/journal/coatings/special_issues/advanced_technology_environment_remediation” online. The Special Issue has been closed and it was very successful. Building on our successful collaboration, we are keen to launch a second volume of the existing Special Issue. We are pleased to invite you to submit manuscripts in the form of complete research papers, short communications, or reviews. This Special Issue “Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization (Second Volume)” aims to present prominent advances in relation to advanced oxidation processes, environmental catalysis technology, environmental-function materials, and resource reuse in the environment.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Environmental remediation;
Resource utilization;
Advanced oxidation process;
Environmental catalysis;
Environmental function material.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Deling Yuan
Prof. Dr. Shoufeng Tang
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

environmental remediation
resource utilization
advanced oxidation process
environmental catalysis
environmental function material

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 25208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reuse of Polymeric Resin for Production of Activated Hydrochar Applied in Removal of Bisphenol A and Diclofenac Synthetic Aqueous Solution

by Andreia Cristina Fonseca Alves, Sérgio Botelho de Oliveira and Paulo Sérgio Scalize

Coatings 2025, 15(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15010027 - 1 Jan 2025

Viewed by 551

Abstract

Spent ion exchange resins were subjected to hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and physical activation to produce adsorbents, which were tested for the adsorption of bisphenol A (BPA) and sodium diclofenac (DCF) in water. PAHF0.35.WV and PAHF0.50.WV were the materials that presented the largest specific surface area, around 200 m²/g. The best performance was in the adsorption of BPA, with an adsorption capacity of 24.45 and 23.34 mg/g. The kinetic and adsorption isotherm models that presented the best adjustments of the curves to the experimental data were the pseudo-second-order model and the Freundlich model. The maximum adsorption capacity of DCF was 17.82 mg/g for PAHF0.35.WV and 15 mg/g for PAHF0.50.WV. The best fit of the adsorption kinetic curves to the experimental data was for the pseudo-second-order model. In the adsorption isotherms, the Langmuir and Freundlich models presented the best fit. The toxicity study with the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata did not demonstrate any toxic effects of the adsorbents. Material regeneration tests indicated a recovery of the adsorption capacity of around 50% in the first cycle, and from the second cycle onwards, the recovery was not satisfactory. However, the results indicate that the anionic resin residue has potential for use in the production of activated hydrocarbons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 3450 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing the Performance of Biodegradable Lignin Nanoparticle/PVA Composite Films via Phenolation Pretreatment of Lignin Using a Novel Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvent

by Xiansheng Cao, Xueping Li, Ruchun Wu, Bao Liu and Wenfei Lin

Coatings 2024, 14(12), 1544; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14121544 - 11 Dec 2024

Viewed by 752

Abstract

As an environment-friendly biodegradable material, poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has been focused on improving performance and expanding its applications. In this study, improved performance lignin nanoparticle/PVA composite film was prepared by phenolation of bagasse lignin (BL) using a novel ternary deep eutectic solvent (DES). The effects of introduction of DES-phenolated lignin (DL) nanoparticles with different additions (1, 3, 5, 10 wt%) on the properties of DL/PVA composite film were comprehensively studied by mechanical performance test, UV-shielding performance test, contact angle measurement, thermogravimetric analyses and DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The experimental results indicated that lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were homogeneously distributed in a biodegradable PVA matrix due to hydrogen bonds between the PVA matrix and lignin nanoparticles. With the introduction of DES pretreatment on native bagasse lignin, the various performances of DL/PVA composite films, such as tensile strength, surface hydrophobicity, UV-shielding and thermal stability, were enhanced in comparison with both pure PVA film and BL/PVA composite film incorporated with DES-untreated BL. The tensile strength of DL/PVA composite film with 3 wt% addition increased to 97.79 MPa from 69.41 MPa for pure PVA film, and the water contact angle increased from 43.7° to 84.2°. DL/PVA composite film with 10 wt% addition shielded 95.8% of the UV spectrum (400–200 nm). Moreover, after incorporating the DL nanoparticles into the PVA matrix, the as-obtained DL/PVA composite films displayed good antioxidant activity by eliminating most of the DPPH free radicals. With 10 wt% addition of DL nanoparticles, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of DL/PVA composite film increased by about 76% compared with pure PVA film. These enhanced properties were attributed to the more phenolic hydroxyl groups of DL nanoparticles than of BL and the hydrogen-bonding interactions. In conclusion, the DES-phenolation pretreatment of lignin clearly improved the properties of PVA composite films. Furthermore, as both lignin and PVA are biodegradable, the lignin nanoparticle/PVA composite film may be a promising candidate for fully biodegradable robust coating materials with vital potential applications, such as UV-shielding and food packaging, etc. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 3662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of SiO₂ Nanoparticles for Application as Nanoadsorbent to Clean Wastewater

by Nora Elizondo-Villarreal, Eleazar Gandara-Martínez, Manuel García-Méndez, Miguel Gracia-Pinilla, Ana María Guzmán-Hernández, Víctor M. Castaño and Cristian Gómez-Rodríguez

Coatings 2024, 14(7), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070919 - 22 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2701

Abstract

By way of the sol–gel chemical synthesis method, it is possible to synthesize SiO₂ nanoparticles with a defined specific particle size, a surface area, and a defined crystal structure that can be effectively used as a nanoadsorbent to remove various organic dyes. SiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol–gel method using sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) by a green method without using a tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) precursor, which is very expensive and highly toxic. This sol–gel process involves the formation of a colloidal suspension (sol) and solid gelation to form a network in a continuous liquid phase (gel). In addition, it requires controlled atmospheres. XRD indicates the presence of an amorphous phase with a diffraction angle of 2θ = 23°, associated with SiO₂. UV-Vis spectroscopy reveals an absorbance value in the region of 200 nm to 300 nm, associated with SiO₂ nanoparticles. The application as a nanoadsorbent to remove dyes was measured, and it was found that the nanoparticles with the best performance were those that were synthesized with pH 7, showing a 97% removal with 20 mg of SiO₂ nanoparticles in 60 min. Therefore, SiO₂ nanoparticles can be used as a nanoadsorbent, using a low-cost and scalable method for application to remove methylene blue in an aqueous medium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 5366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Cation Exchange of LTA Zeolites Synthesized from Different Silicon Sources Applied in CO₂ Adsorption

by Aryandson da Silva, Emanuel Bruno Costa Dantas Elias, Thiago Jackson Torres Cruz, Francisco Gustavo Hayala Silveira Pinto, Mariele Iara Souza de Mello, Lindiane Bieseki and Sibele Berenice Castellã Pergher

Coatings 2024, 14(6), 680; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14060680 - 28 May 2024

Viewed by 1334

Abstract

Zeolites have a well-ordered crystalline network with pores controlled in the synthesis process. Their composition comprises silicon and aluminum, so industrial residues with this composition can be used for the synthesis of zeolites. The use of zeolites for CO₂ adsorption is feasible due to the characteristics that these materials have; in particular, zeolites with a low Si/Al ratio have greater gas adsorption capacities. In this work, the synthesis of LTA (Linde Type A) zeolites from silica fumes obtained from the industrial LIASA process and light coal ash is presented. We explore three different synthesis routes, where the synthesized materials undergo cation exchange and are applied in CO₂ adsorption processes. Studying the synthesis processes, it is observed that all materials present characteristic diffractions for the LTA zeolite, as well as presenting specific areas between 6 and 19 m²/g and average pore distributions of 0.50 nm; however, the silica fume yielded better synthesis results, due to its lower impurity content compared to the light coal ash (which contains impurities such as quartz present in the zeolite). When applied for CO₂ adsorption, the standard materials after cation exchange showed greater adsorption capacities, followed by the zeolites synthesized from silica fume and, finally, the zeolites synthesized from coal ash. By analyzing the selectivity of the materials for CO₂/N₂, it is observed that the materials in sodium form present greater selectivity when compared to the calcium-based materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 9227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Humidification and Chemical Agglomeration to Improve Capturing the Fine Particulate Matter by Electrostatic Precipitator

by Hongrui Chen, Hengtian Li, Shuting Wang, Yingying Han, Xiaoyu Zhai and Lichun Xiao

Coatings 2024, 14(4), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040420 - 31 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1367

Abstract

The wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) overcomes the shortcomings of traditional electrostatic precipitators, such as dust re-entrainment and back corona. It can effectively remove high-specific-resistivity dust, with a good removal effect on PM_2.5. It is proposed to adopt chemical agglomeration and humidification agglomeration technology in the wet electrostatic precipitators to achieve ultra-low dust emissions from coal-fired power plants. The results show that the addition of chemical agglomerates, surfactants, and water vapor all affect the dust diameter of coal-fired power plants. After adding sesbania gum (SG), the D₅₀ of dust particles increases from 28.29 μm to 48.22 μm. And the D₅₀ of dust particles is 36.46 μm when spraying 3.6 kg/h water vapor only. With the cooperation of chemical agglomeration agents and water vapor, the dust agglomeration effect and removal efficiency can be further improved. When 10 mg/L SG is synergistically combined with 2.9 kg/h water vapor, the D₅₀ is 64.75 μm, and the dust removal efficiency reaches 97.88%. On this basis, by adding 5 mg/L of Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the D₅₀ is 83.06 μm, and the dust removal efficiency increases to 98.62%. The synergistic effect of chemical agglomeration and humidification agglomeration promotes the aggregation of dust from coal-fired power plants. It can improve the removal efficiency of WESP for fine particulate matter but has little impact on the operation of existing equipment. The synergistic effects of multiple agglomeration technologies are also the direction for future research on the removal efficiency of fine particulate matter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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11 pages, 2287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Uptake Capability of Green Carbon Black Recycled from Scrap Tires for Water Purification

by Jiho Choi, Jihyun Kang, Huiseong Yang, Sangin Yoon, Jun-Hyun Kim and Hyun-Ho Park

Coatings 2024, 14(4), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040389 - 27 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1634

Abstract

This study reports on the highly simple fabrication of green carbon black (GCB) generated from scrap tires with acetic acid to improve the adsorption efficiency for water purification, which is thoroughly compared with conventional carbon black (CB) obtained from petrochemicals. Unlike traditional modification processes with strong acids or bases, the introduction of a relatively mild acid readily allowed for the effective modification of GCB to increase the uptake capability of metal ions and toxic organic dyes to serve as effective adsorbents. The morphological features and thermal decomposition patterns were examined by electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The surface functional groups were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The structural information (ratio of D-defects/G band-graphitic domains) obtained by Raman spectroscopy clearly suggested the successful fabrication of GCB (I_D/I_G ratio of 0.74), which was distinctively different from typical CB (I_D/I_G ratio of 0.91). In the modified GCB, the specific surface area (S_BET) gradually increased with the reduction of pore size as a function of acetic acid content (52.97 m²/g for CB, 86.64 m²/g for GCB, 102.10-119.50 m²/g for acid-treated GCB). The uptake capability of the modified GCB (312.5 mg/g) for metal ions and organic dyes was greater than that of the unmodified GCB (161.3 mg/g) and typical CB (181.8 mg/g), presumably due to the presence of adsorbed acid. Upon testing them as adsorbents in an aqueous solution, all these carbon materials followed the Langmuir isotherm over the Freundlich model. In addition, the removal rates of cationic species (>70% removal of Cu²⁺ and crystal violet in 30 min) were much faster and far greater than those of anionic metanil yellow (<40% removal in 3 h), given the strong electrostatic interactions. Thus, this work demonstrates the possibility of recycling waste tires in the powder form of GCB as a cost-effective and green adsorbent that can potentially substitute traditional CB, and the modification strategy provides a proof of concept for developing simple fabrication guidelines of other carbonaceous materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 1714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of ANN Weighted by Optimization Algorithms to Predict the Color Coordinates of Cellulosic Fabric in Dyeing with Binary Mix of Natural Dyes

by Morteza Vadood and Aminoddin Haji

Coatings 2022, 12(10), 1519; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12101519 - 10 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2315

Abstract

Cotton is one of the most important fibers used in the textile industry. The dyeing of cotton with synthetic anionic dyes consumes large amounts of salt and alkali, which makes it a challenge for the environment. Furthermore, the relatively high percentage of synthetic dyes remaining in the dyebath is a potential threat for the environment and human health. The application of plant-derived natural dyes has recently been considered as a promising approach to overcome this problem. Optimization of the dyeing process and prediction of the values of the color coordinates of dyed textiles have always been among the most pronounced challenges in the textile industry, especially when a mixture of dyes or mordants is used. In this study, alum was used for mordanting of cotton and two natural dyes—namely, weld and madder—were used for the dyeing. The samples were dyed with various combinations of mordant, weld, and madder for the weight of the fabric and statistical analysis revealed that all three mentioned parameters were effective in determining the color coordinates. To determine the best model to predict the color coordinates of cotton fabrics, the regression method and ANN models weighted with back-propagation (BP) and optimization algorithms, such as the genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, gray wolf optimization, FMINCON (a built-in function of MATLAB software) and a combination of particle swarm optimization and FMINCON (PSO-FMIN), were employed and compared based on the mean squared error (MSE). The obtained results revealed that using the PSO-FMIN algorithm for ANN weighting led to higher accuracy in the prediction of color coordinates. The MSEs obtained for ANN outputs and the corresponding actual values reached 2.02, 1.68 and 1.39 for the l*, a* and b* coordinates, which were 44%, 23% and 26% better than the result obtained with BP, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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25 pages, 11990 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bibliometric Study of Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAOPs) for Wastewater Treatment

by Tanja P. Brdarić, Danka D. Aćimović, Ľubomír Švorc and Dragana D. Vasić Anićijević

Coatings 2024, 14(8), 1060; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14081060 - 19 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1852

Abstract

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) are at the forefront of scientific research as green technologies aimed at effectively purifying polluted aquatic environments. These methods utilize electrochemical processes to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as the hydroxyl radical (•OH), either on the anode surface or within the bulk solution, which can partially degrade or completely mineralize organic pollutants. The aim of the article is to provide a bibliometric analysis of research articles specifically focused on the application and development of EAOPs in wastewater treatment over the past five years. Utilizing the most extensive database for literature searches, Web of Science Core Collection (WoS), which encompasses 95% of global publications, a total of 649 research articles were retrieved by limiting the search results to words associated with EAOPs in titles, keywords, and abstracts. The bibliometric dataset was then processed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. The People’s Republic of China is emerging as the country with the highest production in the field, demonstrating a strong commitment to research and a leading role in international cooperation. This leadership is evident through China’s substantial contributions to the body of literature and its extensive network of collaborations with researchers worldwide. Meanwhile, Australia, despite producing fewer publications, has achieved a high citation rate, underscoring the significant impact and influence of its research within the scientific community. One of the most promising and extensively studied topics in this field is the electro-Fenton process, which has garnered considerable attention due to its potential applications and remarkable efficiency in various contexts. The bibliometric analysis conducted in this study allowed for a detailed visualization of the currently available literature data and corresponding developing trends. By mapping out the key areas of focus, prominent researchers, influential journals, and collaborative networks, this analysis provides valuable insights. These insights can facilitate future joint research endeavors, enhance collaboration, and promote the sharing of knowledge and best practices among researchers globally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 4976 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Low-Carbon Embodied, Self-Cleaning, and Air-Purifying Building Envelope Components Using TiO₂ Photocatalysis, 3D Printing, and Recycling

by Aníbal Maury-Ramírez, Mario Rinke and Johan Blom

Coatings 2024, 14(9), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14091228 - 23 Sep 2024

Viewed by 2944

Abstract

This perspective article describes the past, present, and future directions on TiO₂ photocatalysis, 3D concrete printing, and recycling for developing innovative building envelope components from façade skins. Using a methodology consisting of three phases, first the historical evolution of TiO₂ photocatalysis, 3D concrete printing, and recycling policies was investigated. Second, the rationale and positioning with regard to the state of the art were developed. Third, the cementitious mix design assessment for 3D printing of the building envelope components, evaluation of the photocatalytic activity, evaluation of the self-cleaning and air-purifying properties, and environmental and health assessment of the building envelope components were identified and discussed as major issues in developing innovative building envelope components that have the potential to mitigate urban air pollution, reduce building maintenance activities, and reduce building embedded carbon while, for example, recycling significant amounts of construction and demolition waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technology in Environmental Remediation and Resource Utilization, 2nd Edition)

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