Nanotechnology-Based Water Treatment Strategies

Abstract

The most important component for living beings on the earth is access to clean and safe drinking water. Globally, water scarcity is pervasive even in water-rich areas as immense pressure has been created by the burgeoning human population, industrialization, civilization, environmental changes and agricultural activities. The problem of access to safe water is inevitable and requires tremendous research to devise new, cheaper technologies for purification of water, while taking into account energy requirements and environmental impact. This review highlights nanotechnology-based water treatment technologies being developed and used to improve desalination of sea and brackish water, safe reuse of wastewater, disinfection and decontamination of water, i.e., biosorption and nanoadsorption for contaminant removal, nanophotocatalysis for chemical degradation of contaminants, nanosensors for contaminant detection, different membrane technologies including reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, electro-dialysis etc. This review also deals with the fate and transport of engineered nanomaterials in water and wastewater treatment systems along with the risks associated with nanomaterials.

Fabrication of P25/Ag3PO4/graphene oxide heterostructures for enhanced solar photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and bacteria

“…The composition of wastewater is varied and can include toxic chemicals, bacteria and viruses, although various strategies have been explored for [1][2][3][4][5][6], it still remains a great challenge to eliminate harmful chemicals, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and disease-causing microorganisms simultaneously using a single material.…”

Zinc Oxide Quantum Dots as Efficient Electron Mediator for Ultrasensitive and Selective Electrochemical Sensing of Mercury

“…Moreover, quantum dots of ZnO nanocrystals have also demonstrated outstanding sensing abilities due to their distinctive benefits such as superior catalytic competence, higher chemical constancy, strong adsorption capacity, and exceptional optical and electronic properties. The exotic properties like heightened electrochemical response, high electron mobility, tuneable band gap, ease of synthesis with various morphologies and high surface area also makes ZnO as an appropriate candidate for electrochemical sensing of various analytes such as pesticides, explosives, drugs and certain other specific compounds [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33].…”

The Key Role of Modifications in Biointerfaces toward Rendering Antibacterial and Antifouling Properties in Polymeric Membranes for Water Remediation: A Critical Assessment

“…Currently, inorganic membranes are either made up of porous ceramics like Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , SiO 2 , and ZnO, [257] composites of ceramics like TiO 2 -SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 -SiC, [22] composites of ceramics and nanoparticles like Ag-TiO 2 , Zn-CeO 2 , and zeolites, [258,259] or using carbonaceous materials like graphene and carbon nanotube (CNT). Currently, inorganic membranes are either made up of porous ceramics like Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , SiO 2 , and ZnO, [257] composites of ceramics like TiO 2 -SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 -SiC, [22] composites of ceramics and nanoparticles like Ag-TiO 2 , Zn-CeO 2 , and zeolites, [258,259] or using carbonaceous materials like graphene and carbon nanotube (CNT).…”