Chapter 10 - Application of biosurfactants and nanomaterials in the treatment of polluted water

Abstract

Water pollution has become a global problem as a result of human activities with indiscriminate release of industrial, domestic sewage, and mining effluents into the environment. The negative impacts of water pollution on human, animal, and ecosystem have prompted numerous strategies being developed for the control, remediation, cleaning, and purification of the water system at the source and at the end-point of the delivery-line. Membrane separation, biological precipitation, adsorption, and photocatalysis are among the methods employed. Of great importance is to develop the more economical, cost-effective, easily operable, efficient, and effective water treatment techniques. Surfactants and biosurfactants are employed in the water treatment processes as they could reduce surface tension between two immiscible liquids. Biosurfactants obtained from natural sources have attracted attention as they are inexpensive, ecofriendly, and have unique attributes for coapplication with nanomaterials to enhance their activity and performance. This review article examines the application and performance of biosurfactant−nanomaterial systems in the water purification processes.