Nanotechnology for Water and Wastewater Treatment Using Graphene Semiconductor Composite Materials

Abstract

Recently, contamination of water resources has become a persistent problem to human due to advanced industrialization and rapid population growth. The major causes of water pollution are dye effluents from textile dyeing, pharmaceuticals, and paper printing industries. Therefore, cost-effective technologies, such as membrane filtration, adsorption, coagulation, microbial degradation, and chemical oxidation, are adopted for the removal of pollutants from water effluents. Graphene-based materials have gained much consideration as a novel material for addressing the global environmental issues due their high mechanical strength, excellent electron mobility, large surface area, and high thermal conductivity. Semiconductor photocatalysis has received much interest as a promising technology for water treatment owing to its cost-effective, easy operation, high-efficiency, and convenience. Therefore, the design and fabrication of graphene support with semiconductor photocatalyst are promising as multifunctional catalysts. This book chapter evaluates the recent design of graphene-based materials as adsorbent and photocatalytic materials in environmental remediation. The theoretical outcomes in water treatment using graphene/semiconductor composites are also summarized. A brief outlook on the challenges and new strategies is provided for developing effective water/wastewater treatment techniques using graphene-based materials.