Chapter 25 - Biogenic nanoparticles for removal of heavy metals and organic pollutants from water and wastewater: advances, challenges, and future prospects

Abstract

Heavy metals and organic pollutants in water and wastewater are serious threats to global water safety as well as the environment. There are various highly toxic pollutants discharged from industries which mainly cause environmental pollution and may be toxic to the human body. Traditional treatment technologies remain ineffective, costly, and environmentally toxic for the removal of a variety of organic and inorganic pollutants and may create secondary pollution. Nanotechnology provides multifunctional and highly efficient low-cost approaches for water/wastewater treatments. Nowadays, researchers and scientists have developed promising processes to remove heavy metals and organic pollutants from water and wastewater, such as photocatalysis, adsorption, and removal of membrane. In all these techniques, nanomaterials which have different shapes and sizes play an important role. This chapter provides an overview of advances, challenges, and future prospects of nanotechnology for heavy metals and organic pollutants removal from water and wastewater.