Pollutant decontamination from water: Role of nanocomposite materials

Abstract

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and climate change are responsible for contamination and depletion of water resources. Scarcity of fresh and pure water is considered as a biggest threat to human and animal life. For the last two decades, water purification technologies are gaining more and more attention of the public and governmental bodies. Researchers around the globe are focusing on nanotechnology-based water purification/treatment systems for efficient and effective decontamination of water bodies. Nanoscale composite materials have a huge potential to decontaminate water in several ways, due to their high surface area, excellent mechanical strength, high chemical reactivity, and cost-effectiveness. Nanoscale materials are able to remove bacteria, viruses, and inorganic and organic materials from wastewater due to specific binding action (chelation, absorption, ion exchange). A number of nanocomposite materials are playing active role in water purification, for example, metal nanoparticles, bioactive nanoparticles, nanosorbents, nanocatalysts, nanomembranes, carbon nanotubes, many other nanoforms, etc. This chapter discusses the application of different nanocomposite materials in the treatment of wastewater along with their mechanistic approach.