Sustainable Polymer Composites for Selective Adsorption and Membrane-Based Water Remediation

Polymeric and composite materials are increasingly important for selective water purification and resource recovery, particularly where conventional treatment systems lack sufficient selectivity, durability, or sustainability. Recent studies have shown that bio-based polymers, functionalized cellulose, chitosan, alginate, poly(vinyl alcohol), cellulose acetate, and synthetic polymer matrices can be combined with carbonaceous, inorganic, magnetic, or porous fillers to produce adsorbents, membranes, hydrogels, beads, and other processable materials. However, many systems are still assessed using single-contaminant batch tests or idealized feed solutions. Important gaps remain concerning competitive adsorption, contaminant transport, membrane fouling, polymer and filler leaching, regeneration, degradation, and performance in saline, multicomponent, and real wastewater matrices. A more systematic understanding of how polymer chemistry and composite architecture govern selective separation is therefore needed.This Research Topic aims to establish structure–property–performance relationships for polymeric materials and polymer-based composites used in selective water treatment and resource recovery. It will examine how functional groups, polymer architecture, crosslinking, porosity, filler dispersion, and polymer–filler interfaces control adsorption, diffusion, ion exchange, complexation, membrane transport, fouling, and contaminant selectivity. The Research Topic will also assess the sustainability, scalability, and practical reliability of these systems through studies of regeneration, repeated use, leaching, life-cycle impacts, continuous-flow operation, and techno-economic performance. Particular emphasis will be placed on materials in which the polymer phase is central to separation performance, processability, mechanical integrity, or environmental compatibility.To gather further insights into polymer-based materials for selective water purification and resource recovery, this Research Topic focuses on systems containing a substantive polymeric phase and excludes standalone inorganic adsorbents, general-purpose nanocomposites without a water-treatment application, biomedical polymers, non-aqueous remediation, and broad catalyst development without a polymer-mediated separation function. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Bio-based, biodegradable, waste-derived, recyclable, and chemically modified polymers for water treatment• Functionalized cellulose, chitosan, alginate, gelatin, cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl alcohol), and related polymer matrices• Polymer–carbon, polymer–metal oxide, polymer–magnetic, polymer–MOF, and polymer–COF composites• Selective adsorption and membrane separation of heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, nutrients, hydrocarbons, and emerging contaminants• Polymer membranes, hydrogels, beads, fibers, aerogels, monoliths, and other shaped porous architectures• Polymer functionalization, grafting, crosslinking, molecular imprinting, pore engineering, and affinity-site design• Adsorption, diffusion, ion exchange, complexation, facilitated transport, and coupled separation mechanisms• Competitive adsorption, multicomponent feeds, salinity, natural organic matter, and real wastewater validation• Membrane fouling, concentration polarization, antifouling design, contaminant leaching, and mechanical or chemical stability• Regeneration, reuse, contaminant recovery, degradation, and end-of-life management• Low-solvent, low-energy, additive-manufacturing, continuous-flow, and scalable fabrication methods• Pilot testing, module development, life-cycle assessment, techno-economic analysis, and computational or data-driven materials design Topic editors: Vishwajit Chavda, Sapna Raghav, Dileep Kumar Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84978/sustainable-polymer-composites-for-selective-adsorption-and-membrane-based-water-remediation