Silver nanoparticles in water purification: Opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Conventional water purification or disinfection techniques, such as chemical treatment, water purification via ozone or chlorine based components lead to the generation of disinfection byproducts. Antimicrobial activity of nanomaterials has the potential to avoid problems associated with the release of disinfection products. Advances in nanoscale science and engineering have provided solution to many of the current problems involving water purification. Purifying water with silver is known for quite some time and has been traditionally applied in a wide range of applications. Potential use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for water purification and its relative bacterial filtration effectiveness is discussed in this chapter. The section also provides information about the limitations and the current challenges for the effective utilization of AgNPs in water purification.