Water Treatment Technology for Emerging Contaminants, 2nd Edition

This Reprint compiles 8 peer-reviewed articles from the Special Issue "Water Treatment Technology for Emerging Contaminants, 2nd Edition", presenting an integrated perspective on emerging contaminant challenges. It covers microplastics, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, PFASs, and toxic heavy metals, spanning bibliometric trend mapping to advanced material development, real-world case studies, and technology assessments. Novel approaches include morphology-controlled photocatalytic heterojunctions for antibiotic removal, gold-coated Janus nanoparticles providing an eightfold enhancement in 1,4-dioxane degradation, and functionalized activated carbon for selective pollutant capture. A biological treatment is examined via failure analysis of rubber industry wastewater and a review of microalgae-based nutrient removal, revealing both potential and practical limitations. A critical review of electrochemical disinfection challenges laboratory optimism by detailing material toxicity, unrealistic flow conditions, and lack of residual disinfection, providing essential real-world design criteria. A multi-compartment field study in a Ramsar wetland tributary quantifies heavy metal bioaccumulation and trophic transfer, highlighting ecological and human health risks. The Reprint underscores the need for systems-level thinking, scalable materials validated under realistic water matrices, and regulatory alignment. It will be valuable for environmental engineers, water quality researchers, risk assessors, and policy makers seeking actionable solutions and a research roadmap for mitigating emerging pollutants in aquatic environments.