Themed collection UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation


Accelerating the industrial transition with safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD)
Safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) is a pre-market approach that integrates innovation with safety and sustainability along the entire life cycle.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 2185-2191
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00809J

Inventing a secure future: material stewardship as chemistry's mission for sustainability
Chemistry should adopt material stewardship as a central mission in fulfilling its vital role in sustainability for people and planet.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 804-821
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00576G

Loofah sponge: a sustainable material for wastewater desalination
Treatment of wastewater has become a necessity to address the shortage of drinking water in this era due to population explosion as well as shortage of water resources.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 2806-2832
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00043B

Advances in the catalysis of reduction of nitroaromatics and its mechanism: a tutorial review
This paper reviews the research on the conversion of nitroaromatics to aminoaromatics through catalysis.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 243-254
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00531G

A critical review on the sustainability of inverse vulcanised polymers
This review takes a closer look at the life-cycle of inverse vulcanized polymers and if they can be more sustainable alternatives to commodity materials in energy storage, remediation technology, agriculture or construction.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 4190-4227
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00387C

Minimizing oil pollution: a review of current status and its treatment options
Oil contamination is a critical issue affecting global water resources, which originates from a variety of sources, including domestic and industrial activities. Treatment methods include physical, chemical, and biological processes. Image source: Oil spill photo – Jesse Kavanaugh, U.S. Coast Guard.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 3681-3723
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00403A

Sustainable and durable superwetting textiles coated with polydopamine for oil/water separation
Schematic illustration for the fabrication process of superwetting textiles coated with polydopamine.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 2501-2533
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00041F

Phosphorus recovery from animal manures through pyrolysis: phosphorus transformations, release mechanisms, and applications of manure biochars in agriculture
Phosphorus recovery from animal manures by pyrolysis can effectively close the agricultural phosphorus cycle.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1084-1101
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00524D

A review on bio-inspired nanoparticles and their impact on membrane applications
Incorporation of nanoparticles into the membrane matrix plays a pivotal role in water purification and treatment.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1212-1233
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00460D

Cyanobacterial green chemistry: a blue-green approach for a sustainable environment, energy, and chemical production
Increased human activity due to the ever-increasing global population has necessitated the urgent need for a sustainable environment, food, and energy.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 661-675
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00448E

Surfactant-free gold nanoparticles synthesized in alkaline water–ethanol mixtures: leveraging lower grade chemicals for size control of active nanocatalysts
The use of low(er) purity chemicals leads to size-controlled gold nanoparticles that are active catalysts for water treatment.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 2870-2875
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00213C

Functionalized AuNP-mycelial composites as engineered living materials for sustainable mercury remediation
Heavy metal contamination, particularly mercury (Hg2+), poses severe environmental and health risks even at trace levels.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 4703-4713
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00556F

Sustainable removal of malachite green using cellulose extracted from waste bamboo culm sheath
Removal of malachite green using cellulose extracted from waste bamboo culm sheath as a sustainable and lucrative approach.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 4583-4597
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00133A

Molecular modelling of a biochar–ZnO–CuO nano-biofertilizer: adsorption simulation for optimized nutrient delivery
CBC was analyzed for its electronic, molecular, and adsorption properties. Despite its narrow ΔEgap (0.058 eV), reactivity is limited due to orbital separation. CuO binds stronger than ZnO but co-adsorption reduces deformation, enhancing synergy.
RSC Sustainability, 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00646E

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. mediated sustainable synthesis of α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 S-scheme heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride: a mechanistic insight and DFT study
S-scheme α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 photocatalyst was synthesized using Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. extract, exhibiting enhanced charge separation and tetracycline degradation, offering a sustainable approach for wastewater treatment under visible light.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 3582-3600
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00437C

Facile fabrication of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles by hydrothermal carbonization of waste iron supplements
A sustainable hydrothermal carbonization route valorizes expired iron supplements into magnetite nanoparticles, offering low-energy nanomaterial fabrication for water treatment and other industrial applications.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 3530-3547
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00312A

Improving the fixed charge density of sustainably produced saloplastic anion exchange membranes
Enhancement of fixed charge density in PSS-PDADMAC saloplastic membranes via PDADMAC overcharging leads to improved ion conductivity and permselectivity.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 3473-3482
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00221D

Ionic and non-ionic organic porous adsorbents for the removal of chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin from water
Nanoporous organic materials with varying pore sizes were utilized to remove antibiotics from surface and groundwater.
RSC Sustainability, 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00198F

Effectiveness, user acceptability and sustainability of Arsiron Nilogon: a rural technology for arsenic removal from drinking water
Field implementation of Arsiron Nilogon in a village has shown the low-cost method to be a highly effective, user-friendly and sustainable solution for arsenic mitigation in a rural setup.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 2669-2679
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00007F

Strategic innovation in CuBTC/PANI nanocomposites for dye remediation: a holistic approach for enhancing adsorption, isotherms, and kinetic studies
The environmental persistence of reactive blue 19 dye poses a significant challenge, driving the urgent need for efficient removal technologies to protect water quality.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 2311-2324
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SU00056D

Novel green fabrication of stable hydrogel beads from industrial waste lignin for efficient Pb(II) ion removal
A green method using liquid nitrogen produced gelatin–lignin beads with a Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 155 mg g−1, 96% removal efficiency, and stability over 10 cycles, offering a sustainable solution for water treatment.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 2255-2272
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00732H

Cannabis sativa biochar: characterization and preliminary application in plant growth and adsorption, and as an electrode material
Biochar offers a sustainable use of cannabis residues. Low temperature biochar can be used for contaminant adsorption and in soil amendment, and high temperature biochar as an electrode material in electrochemical and bioelectrochemical applications.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1932-1940
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00829D

Microplastics in the rough: using data augmentation to identify plastics contaminated by water and plant matter
Microplastics are present in nearly all environments.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1886-1899
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00612G

A high-performance nanofiltration membrane synthesized by embedding amino acids and ionic liquids in cellulose acetate for heavy metal separation
Cellulose acetate (CA) membranes incorporated with amino acids (AAs) and ionic liquids (ILs) fabricated using phase inversion technique have been proven to be efficient and effective for nanofiltration to treat heavy metal ion solutions.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1966-1981
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00688G

Co-pyrolysis of low-value wood sawdust and non-recyclable plastics into char: effect of plastic loading on char yield and its properties
Co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastics is essential to improve the quality and yield of pyrolytic products, optimise energy recovery, and mitigate plastic waste, providing a sustainable approach to waste valorisation.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1774-1787
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00739E

Activated carbon derived from rice husks enhanced by methylene blue and gamma irradiation for supercapacitor applications
Electrodes for supercapacitors were developed from activated carbon (GAC) derived from glutinous rice husk (GRH).
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1507-1515
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00701H

Finding suitable biobased solvents for extractions from water
Solvent usage is one of the most critical factors for the carbon footprint of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, with profound consequences of an undesirable or sub-optimal selection.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1539-1549
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00628C

Life cycle assessment of industry wastewater treatment plant: a case study in Vietnam
This study employs Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of wastewater treatment systems in industrial zones of Vietnam.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 1415-1423
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00511B

Zeolitic imidazolate framework improved vanadium ferrite: toxicological profile and its utility in the photodegradation of some selected antibiotics in aqueous solution
Zeolitic imidazolate framework improved vanadium ferrite (VFe2O4@monoZIF-8) was prepared to purify a ciprofloxacin (CP), ampicillin (AP), and erythromycin (EY) contaminated water system via a visible light driven photocatalytic process.
RSC Sustainability, 2025,3, 427-439
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SU00681J
About this collection
RSC Sustainability features solutions-focused research dedicated to solving sustainability challenges. We champion chemical science discoveries that support and enable any of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcasing new sustainable technologies and greener chemical solutions that drive real-world impact.
We’ve collated recent articles published in RSC Sustainability that align with each of the UN SDGs.
This collection highlights Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Articles in this collection showcase the efforts of our chemical scientists in meeting this global need, from providing innovative measures to detect and extract harmful chemicals from the worlds water sources, to developing sustainable methods in sanitation and waste management.
To find out more about the United Nations Global Sustainability Goals visit: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Check out the other UN SDG collections in the series:
UN Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequality. Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production Home
UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action Home