Recent Advances in Solid Waste Minimization using Nanotechnology

Abstract

A continuum population burst has been observed from last decade which include some of the most populated developing nations including China and India. China and India together account nearly 36.41% of total world population, while the world population estimated 7.5 billion and expected to further rise 9.3-10 billion by 2050. With increasing the worldwide population the significant increase in solid waste generation has also been recorded which mainly because of over population growth rate, industrialization, urbanization and economic growth. The current global municipal solid waste generation levels are approx. 1.3billion tons per year and are expected to rise 2.2 billion by 2025. Higher the economic development and rate of urbanization, greater the municipal solid waste. The adverse effects may not only on human health but also include the flora and fauna, soil quality, ground water quality and air quality of the region. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reduce and eliminate adverse impacts of waste materials on human health and environment to support economic development and superior quality of life, regardless of the origin, content or hazard potential, solid waste must be managed systematically to ensure environmental best practices. In this review we have highlighted the applications and work in managing the municipal solid waste using nanotechnology to enable the manipulation and control the material's properties which exploits when the material is produced at nanoscale. Nanoscale technology not only revolutionizes but also improves and optimize, existing industrial processes and materials as well. Although the review focuses on the use of nanotechnology to facilitate waste minimization and prevent cycling of hazardous waste in the environment, which relatively is a new approach, the remediation and impact on the solid waste minimization and environment using nanotechnology are also discussed.