Advanced Chemical and Biological Strategies for Detection and Remediation of Water Contaminants

Water contamination is a pressing global concern, impacting public health, ecosystems, and economic development. This edited volume presents cutting-edge advancements in chemical and biological strategies for identifying, analyzing, and eliminating contaminants from water systems. It covers topics ranging from micro- and nanoplastics, engineered bacteria, fluorescent sensors, and supramolecular chemistry to AI-driven monitoring tools and nano-photocatalysis. This book is structured to provide a holistic understanding of emerging pollutants―such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, microplastics, and heavy metals―and advanced solutions tailored for both urban and rural water treatment systems. With inputs from interdisciplinary experts, this book bridges the gap between academic research and practical implementation, offering guidance to researchers, engineers, policymakers, and students.

Sneha Gautam is a Professor (Research) & Head in the Water Institute and Division of Civil Engineering at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India. He is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Climate and Energy Systems Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea. He earned his Ph.D. (Engineering) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and an M.Tech. (Environmental Science and Engineering) from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. After completing his Ph.D., he worked as a Researcher at INCLEN and the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, and further postdoctoral research at National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), Taiwan. Dr. Gautam’s name has been consecutively listed (2021–2025) among the Top 2% Scientists of the World by Stanford University. He has received several prestigious recognitions, including the Young Scientist Award (2023) by the Academy of Sciences, Chennai, Young Scientist Award (2022), IEI Special Appreciation Award (2021), IEI Young Achiever Award (2020), IEI Young Scientist Award (2019), the Outstanding Reviewer Award, and an International Travel Grant from the Government of India. With over 210 research articles in reputed international journals (h-index: 48; i10-index: 164; citations: 8561+), Dr. Gautam has established a strong global research network, and his work has been featured in Al Jazeera, The Times of India, and Trinity. His research interests encompass the atmospheric environment, focusing on climate-weather interactions, air and water pollution measurement and modeling, bioaerosols, personal exposure assessment, urban and rural air quality, microplastics, emerging contaminants in air & water, and sensor-based environmental monitoring technologies.

Biswanath Mahanty is Professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India. He earned his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and has academic and research experience in India and South Korea, including appointments at Inha University and the University of Ulsan. His research interests include bioprocess engineering, environmental biotechnology, mathematical modeling, artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in biotechnology, bioremediation, wastewater treatment, sustainable biopolymers, and biomass valorization. Dr. Mahanty has made significant contributions by integrating data-driven modeling and optimization techniques with microbial and biochemical systems for sustainable environmental and industrial applications.
Dr. Mahanty has authored more than 100 research publications, including articles in leading journals such as Bioresource Technology, Chemical Engineering Science, Science of the Total Environment, Journal of Environmental Management, Food Chemistry, and Biotechnology and Bioengineering. His recent work focuses on explainable artificial intelligence, hybrid dynamic modeling, bioprocess optimization, lignocellulosic biorefineries, polyhydroxyalkanoates, pullulan biosynthesis, and environmental remediation technologies. In addition to his research contributions, Dr. Mahanty serves as a reviewer for numerous high-impact international journals. His interdisciplinary expertise and extensive publication record make him a valuable contributor to emerging areas of biotechnology, environmental engineering, and sustainable process development.

Raju Nandhakumar specialises in Bio-organic and supramolecular chemistry. He received his UG, PG, and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Presently, he is the Professor of Chemistry at the Division of Physical Sciences, Karunya Institute of Technology and Science (Deemed to be University). His research interests include Carbon-based materials, Fluorescent Chemosensors and Forensic sciences. He has successfully completed several projects from various funding agencies and guided ten doctoral students. To his credit, he has written seven books, ten book chapters, two international patents (granted), 13 national patents (granted), and published more than 200 research papers (including five review articles) in peer-reviewed international and national journals.