Carbon Nanomaterials for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

The research progress made in recent years in removal of organic-inorganic pollutants from wastewater using various types of carbon materials as adsorbents such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphenes, graphitic carbon nitride, fullerene, activated carbon spheres, and carbon quantum dots is reviewed. These carbon nanomaterials with hierarchical structures are efficient and economical adsorbents. The techniques of metal impregnation and doping help to control the porosity and surface area of nanomaterials. Electrostatic forces, p-p and p-e interactions, van der Waals weak forces, and oxygen-containing groups are considered responsible for the removal of pollutants from wastewater. The carbon nanomaterial-based photocatalysts are applied successfully in decomposition of persistent dyes under visible light. Fe 3 O 4 magnetic material is employed as recyclable adsorbent after treatment of wastewater. Freundlich and Langmuir models are found more suitable to calculate the adsorption efficiency and adsorption kinetics of pollutants. Criteria and properties of carbon nanomaterials are discussed that might play a significant role in remediation of wastewater.

Magnetic Fe/Fe3C@C Nanoadsorbents for Efficient Cr (VI) Removal

“…Among them, carbon-based adsorbents have been extensively analyzed in the literature and applied in current wastewater applications. The specific microstructure allows the interaction with different pollutants by electrostatic forces, non-covalent forces, or hydrophobic interactions, and different carbon nanostructures (carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite, and activated carbon) have been widely employed [ 8 ]. Along with their high adsorption capacity, associated with a high surface area, the versatility of carbon adsorbents is linked to the possibility to be obtained by different low-cost procedures (e.g., biomass pyrolysis) [ 9 ].…”

Recent Advances in Methods for Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanocomposite and their Emerging Applications: A Descriptive Review

“…Active atomic surfaces of polymeric structure CNTs have been already emerged to improve the adsorption and catalytic performance with respect to eliminate heavy ions and heterocyclic complexes. However, the hybrid structural characteristics of the CNTs materials were found more efficient towards environmental issues like dye degradation, metal adsorption, and water purifications from the wastewater contaminants [95]. In this regard, Adam et al prepared novel metal-carbonbased catalysts for the adsorption of (Hg(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), and Sn(II) ions) heavy ions from an aqueous media.…”

State-of-the-Art of Polymer/Fullerene C60 Nanocomposite Membranes for Water Treatment: Conceptions, Structural Diversity and Topographies

“…Polymer/fullerene nanocomposites have been applied in wide-ranging methodological fields such as electronics [ 140 ], supercapacitors [ 141 ], and solar cells [ 142 ]. Fullerene C 60 has been physically or covalently linked with host polymers to enhance final nanomaterial characteristics [ 143 , 144 ]. The systematic studies on the polymer/fullerene nanocomposites have escorted towards polymeric membranes [ 145 ].…”