Chapter 3 - Adsorption of organic including pharmaceutical and inorganic contaminants in water toward graphene-based materials

Abstract

Water pollution due to the release of pharmaceuticals from different sources including domestic and industrial wastewaters as well as agricultural activities has been acknowledged as an increasingly important concern, given their adverse impacts on the environment and public health. While many pharmaceuticals were reported to be limitedly treated by conventional technologies, treatments by using graphene-based materials including pristine graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced GO as adsorbents represent one alternative approach to remove pharmaceuticals from different types of wastewaters. The characteristics of these graphene-based materials including their carbon structures, high surface areas, and modifiable functional groups are exploitable for removing pharmaceuticals and other organic and inorganic contaminants in both water and wastewater treatment processes. This chapter starts the discussion from the occurrence, adverse environmental and human health impacts, and typical treatment approaches of pharmaceuticals, followed by introduction regarding the preparation and modification of graphene-based adsorbents and their applications for treatment of pharmaceuticals and other organic and inorganic pollutants in the water phase. Supplementary explanation describing the stability and toxicity of the graphene-based materials is provided. This chapter is prepared to connect the ideas associated with two critical environmental issues, emerging contaminants and novel adsorption technology.