A review: The utilization of mesoporous materials in wastewater treatment

Abstract

A review about the use of fabricated mesoporous materials with emphasis on silica in water treatment is presented. The problem of water supply is a well-known global problem because many areas around the world are suffering due to the lack of water, and therefore, the treatment and reuse of wastewater is crucial. Mesoporous materials have some unique features, such as a high surface area, which is normally associated with wide pore volume in addition to good thermal and mechanical stability. These properties have attracted researchers to study the use of mesoporous materials in water treatment. The first section of the current review is focused on traditional materials that are used for water purification from different pollutants, in addition to the different techniques that are using for the preparation of the mesoporous materials. The second section discusses the several functionalization tactics of mesoporous materials and their role in the efficiency enhancement towards pollutant removal from water. Finally, the third section presents the use of mesoporous materials in two of the most popular applications in water treatment: adsorption and photocatalysis techniques.