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Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biodegradation for Emerging Contaminants Treatment
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Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biodegradation for Emerging Contaminants Treatment

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 13775

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Guilong Peng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: advanced oxidation processes; analytical chemistry; biochar
Dr. Chengdu Qi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: advanced oxidation processes; control of emerging contaminants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Since the industrial revolution, persistent organic compounds in wastewater have become the core object of water pollution control due to their complexity, stability, and high toxicity. The treatment of emerging contaminants, including persistent organic pollutants, antibiotics, and environmental disrupting chemicals, in water/wastewater is still a challenge. Numerous methods have been adopted for emerging contaminants in water/wastewater treatment. However, the toxicity of intermediate products formed during emerging contaminants treatment is still unknown, which is a barrier for actual application. In this Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, we aim to publish high-quality research articles and reviews on the understanding of advanced oxidation processes and biodegradation for the treatment of emerging contaminants, especially for their toxicity assessment.

Dr. Guilong Peng
Dr. Chengdu Qi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • advanced oxidation processes
  • persistent organic compounds
  • water pollution control
  • biodegradation
  • emerging contaminants
  • water treatment
  • wastewater treatment
  • toxicity assessment

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 6450 KiB  
Article
Non-Targeted Screening and Identification of the Transformation Pathway of Carbamazepine in the Saemangeum Watershed, Republic of Korea
by Da Rae Jeon, Young-Eun Kim, Jong Kwon Im, Yujeong Huh and Hyoung Seop Kim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 11947; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252211947 - 7 Nov 2024
Viewed by 332
Abstract
Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a widely used pharmaceutical for various purposes, including as an anticonvulsant, antibiotic, and antiepileptic agent, and it undergoes diverse metabolic pathways in both the environment and the human body. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the distribution of CBZ, the [...] Read more.
Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a widely used pharmaceutical for various purposes, including as an anticonvulsant, antibiotic, and antiepileptic agent, and it undergoes diverse metabolic pathways in both the environment and the human body. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the distribution of CBZ, the presence of its transformation products (TPs), and the transformation pathways in the Mangyeong and Dongjin Rivers in the Saemangeum watershed of Korea using non-targeted screening. The concentration distribution results for CBZ and its TPs showed that the average concentrations in the Mangyeong and Dongjin Rivers were 128.8 ng/L and 89.0 ng/L, respectively. The Mangyeong River exhibited a higher CBZ concentration than the Dongjin River, which was similar to those of the reported CBZ concentrations in other major domestic and international rivers. The types and detection frequencies of the identified TPs exhibited similar trends. The detection frequencies of the TPs decreased in the following order: CBZ-EP > DiOH-CBZ > 10OH-CBZ > 2OH-CBZ > 9-carboxyacridine > 9-acridinecarboxaldehyde. The detection frequency of the main TPs was high, and some were believed to be generated during the water treatment process. The presence of additional TPs (CBZ-O-quinone, acridine, and iminostilbene) was confirmed by the generated molecular networks. This study presents the transformation pathway of the CBZ and provides foundational data for understanding the environmental behavior of TPs, improving wastewater treatment plants, managing water quality, and establishing water environmental policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biodegradation for Emerging Contaminants Treatment)
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12 pages, 2736 KiB  
Article
Degradation of Diclofenac by Loaded Solid Superbase-Activated Persulfate
by Jiaqi Shi, Lei Wang, Shang Gao, Jianbo Huang, Hao Yang, Hao Lu and Shaohua Cao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14313; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814313 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1220
Abstract
Alkali-activated persulfate (PS) is widely used in situ in chemical oxidation processes; however, studies on the innovation of the alkali activation process are very limited. Two supported solid superbases, namely KNO3/γ-Al2O3 (KAl) and KNO3/SBA-15/MgO (KSM), respectively, [...] Read more.
Alkali-activated persulfate (PS) is widely used in situ in chemical oxidation processes; however, studies on the innovation of the alkali activation process are very limited. Two supported solid superbases, namely KNO3/γ-Al2O3 (KAl) and KNO3/SBA-15/MgO (KSM), respectively, were prepared and used to activate persulfate to degrade DCF in this work. The results showed that the superbases elevated the solution pH once added and thus could catalyze persulfate to degrade diclofenac efficiently above pH 10.5. The catalytic efficiency of KAl was close to that of sodium hydroxide, and that of KSM was the highest. The mechanism might be that, in addition to raising the solution pH, some potassium existed as K2O2, which had a strong oxidizing effect and was conducive to DCF removal. Hydroxyl, sulfate and superoxide radicals were all found in the reaction system, among which hydroxyl might play the most important role. The material composition ratio, common anion and humic acid all had some influences on the catalytic efficiency. A total of five intermediates were found in the KSM/PS oxidation system, and six oxidation pathways, which were hydroxylation, dehydrogen, dechlorination, dehydration, decarboxylation, and C-N bond breakage, might be involved in the reaction process. Several highly toxic oxidation products that should be paid attention to were also proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biodegradation for Emerging Contaminants Treatment)
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13 pages, 5836 KiB  
Article
Statistical Analysis of Methotrexate Degradation by UV-C Photolysis and UV-C/TiO2 Photocatalysis
by Luis A. González-Burciaga, Juan C. García-Prieto, Cynthia M. Núñez-Núñez and José B. Proal-Nájera
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(11), 9595; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119595 - 31 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1891
Abstract
Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid analog and has been used to treat a wide variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases. The wide use of these substances has led to the continuous discharge of the parent compound and its metabolites in wastewater. In [...] Read more.
Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid analog and has been used to treat a wide variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases. The wide use of these substances has led to the continuous discharge of the parent compound and its metabolites in wastewater. In conventional wastewater treatment plants, the removal or degradation of drugs is not complete. In order to study the MTX degradation by photolysis and photocatalysis processes, two reactors were used with TiO2 as a catalyst and UV-C lamps as a radiation source. H2O2 addition was also studied (absence and 3 mM/L), and different initial pHs (3.5, 7, and 9.5) were tested to define the best degradation parameters. Results were analyzed by means of ANOVA and the Tukey test. Results show that photolysis in acidic conditions with 3 mM of H2O2 added is the best condition for MTX degradation in these reactors, with a kinetic constant of 0.028 min−1. According to the ANOVA test, all considered factors (process, pH, H2O2 addition, and experimentation time) caused statistically significant differences in the MTX degradation results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biodegradation for Emerging Contaminants Treatment)
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16 pages, 2394 KiB  
Article
Catalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin in Aqueous Solution by Peroxymonosulfate Activated with a Magnetic CuFe2O4@Biochar Composite
by Youmei Zeng, Guangming Zhou, Dandan He and Guilong Peng
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5702; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065702 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2174
Abstract
A magnetic copper ferrite and biochar composite (CuFe2O4@BC) catalyst was prepared by an improved sol-gel calcination method and initially used for the removal of antibiotics ciprofloxacin (CIP) by activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Using CuFe2O4@BC as the [...] Read more.
A magnetic copper ferrite and biochar composite (CuFe2O4@BC) catalyst was prepared by an improved sol-gel calcination method and initially used for the removal of antibiotics ciprofloxacin (CIP) by activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Using CuFe2O4@BC as the activator, 97.8% CIP removal efficiency could be achieved in 30 min. After a continuous degradation cycle, CuFe2O4@BC catalyst still exhibited great stability and repeatability and could also be quickly recovered by an external magnetic field. Meanwhile, the CuFe2O4@BC/PMS system presented good stability for metal ion leaching, which was far less than the leaching of metal ions in the CuFe2O4/PMS system. Moreover, the effects of various influencing factors, such as initial solution pH, activator loading, PMS dosage, reaction temperature, humic acid (HA), and the inorganic anions were explored. The quenching experiments and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis manifested that hydroxyl radical (•OH), sulfate radical (SO4•−), superoxide radical (O2•−), and singlet oxygen (1O2) were generated in the CuFe2O4@BC/PMS system, while 1O2 and O2•− are mainly involved in the degradation process. The synergistic effect between CuFe2O4 and BC enhanced the structural stability and electrical conductivity of the material, which promoted the bonding between the catalyst and PMS, resulting in the enhanced catalytic activity of CuFe2O4@BC. This indicates that CuFe2O4@BC activating PMS is a promising remediation technique for CIP-contaminated water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biodegradation for Emerging Contaminants Treatment)
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18 pages, 3634 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of an Environmentally Friendly Modified Mulberry Branch-Derived Biochar Composite: High Degradation Efficiency of BPA and Mitigation of Toxicity in Silkworm Larvae
by Han Qu, Lin Chen, Fujian Yang, Jiangwei Zhu, Chengdu Qi and Guilong Peng
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3609; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043609 - 10 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1555
Abstract
In the present study, mulberry branch-derived biochar CuO (MBC/CuO) composite was successfully synthesized and used as a catalyst to activate persulfate (PS) for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The MBC/CuO/PS system exhibited a high degradation efficiency (93%) of BPA, under the conditions [...] Read more.
In the present study, mulberry branch-derived biochar CuO (MBC/CuO) composite was successfully synthesized and used as a catalyst to activate persulfate (PS) for the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The MBC/CuO/PS system exhibited a high degradation efficiency (93%) of BPA, under the conditions of 0.1 g/L MBC/CuO, 1.0 mM PS, 10 mg/L BPA. Free radical quenching and electron spin-resonance spectroscopy (ESR) experiments confirmed that both free radicals •OH, SO4•− and O2•− and non-radicals 1O2 were involved in the MBC/CuO reaction system. Cl− and NOM displayed negligible influence on the degradation of BPA, while HCO3− promoted the removal of BPA. In addition, the toxicity tests of BPA, MBC/CuO and the degraded BPA solution were conducted by the 5th instar silkworm larvae. The toxicity of BPA was reduced after the treatment in the MBC/CuO/PS system, and no obvious toxicity of the synthesized MBC/CuO composite was found in the toxicity evaluation experiments. This work provides a new value-added utilization of mulberry branches as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly PS activator. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biodegradation for Emerging Contaminants Treatment)
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Review

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22 pages, 1123 KiB  
Review
Advances in Preparation and Properties of Regenerated Silk Fibroin
by Linlin Huang, Jifeng Shi, Wei Zhou and Qing Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713153 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5740
Abstract
Over the years, silk fibroin (SF) has gained significant attention in various fields, such as biomedicine, tissue engineering, food processing, photochemistry, and biosensing, owing to its remarkable biocompatibility, machinability, and chemical modifiability. The process of obtaining regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) involves degumming, dissolving, [...] Read more.
Over the years, silk fibroin (SF) has gained significant attention in various fields, such as biomedicine, tissue engineering, food processing, photochemistry, and biosensing, owing to its remarkable biocompatibility, machinability, and chemical modifiability. The process of obtaining regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) involves degumming, dissolving, dialysis, and centrifugation. RSF can be further fabricated into films, sponges, microspheres, gels, nanofibers, and other forms. It is now understood that the dissolution method selected greatly impacts the molecular weight distribution and structure of RSF, consequently influencing its subsequent processing and application. This study comprehensively explores and summarizes different dissolution methods of SF while examining their effects on the structure and performance of RSF. The findings presented herein aim to provide valuable insights and references for researchers and practitioners interested in utilizing RSF in diverse fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Oxidation Processes and Biodegradation for Emerging Contaminants Treatment)
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