Appropriate technologies to combat water pollution.

This special issue contains 56 articles selected from the 10th annual international conference called "Challenges in Environmental Science and Engineering," CESE-2017 that was held in Kunming, China from the 11th to the 15th of November 2017. There were 283 delegates from 16 countries and regions participated in CESE-2017. The conference covered 8 themes namely (i) the Application of Membrane Technology & Nano-Technology, (ii) Water & Wastewater: Pollution Prevention & Treatment, (iii) Resources & Wastes: Management and Recovery of Materials and Energy, (iv) Air Pollution: Prevention and Treatment, (v) Sustainable Catchments & Renewable Energy, (vi) Cleaner Production and Emerging Sustainable Practices, (vii) Appropriate Technology for Sustainability & Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation, and (viii) Soil Sustainability and Contaminated Soils and Sediments. This special issue covers various aspects of adsorption, heavy metals, application of membranes, removal of pollutants, sludge management, stormwater, water quality, and treatment. There are eight articles related to adsorption published in this special issue. Two articles provide research outcomes on CO 2 capture; one study used palm kernel shell-based activated carbon produced by direct physical activation, and another study used rice husk to enhance calcium oxide-based sorbent prepared from waste cockle shells for cyclic CO 2 capture in high-temperature condition. Next study discusses green synthesis of palm oil mill effluent-based graphenic adsorbent for dye wastewater treatment. One study discusses the preparation Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues * Veeriah Jegatheesan