Removal of emerging pollutants from the environment: From bioadsorbents to nanoparticle-based systems

Abstract

In the Call for Papers corresponding to this Virtual Special Issue (VSI), the Editors indicated that, as is well known, emerging pollutants include a variety of substances that pose remarkable risks for the environment and public health. In fact, emerging pollutants are considered a matter of concern deserving increasing efforts to elucidate their occurrence, fate, repercussions, and alternatives to their removal from the various environmental compartments where they can be found after spreading as contaminants. Also, the Editors commented that, among the various alternatives that can be considered for achieving their successful removal, some of them are based on the use of sorbent materials, and, specifically, bioadsorbents, which are attractive due to the efficacy and low cost associated with some of them. Another alternative is related to the utilization of nanoparticle-based systems, which may be considered a promising field of research in this way. In both cases, obtaining new research results, as well as designing and programming new ways of going steps ahead in the investigation of both kinds of materials, would be key objectives. According to the previous considerations, the Editors of the VSI invited researchers having new data concerning these aspects to submit manuscripts with experimental results, discussion, reflections and prospective related to their work. With the Special Issue closed, the number of submissions received was 83, with 40 high-quality works being accepted for publication, increasing the overall knowledge on this topic by providing results that we are sure will be of value for the scientific community and the society.

Keywords: Bioadsorbents; Emerging pollutants; Environment; Nanotechnology; Soil; Water.