Abstract
Nanoremediation, which is the use of nanoparticles and nanomaterials for environmental remediation, is widely explored and proposed for preservation of ecosystems that suffer from the increase in human population, pollution, and urbanization. We herein report a critical analysis of nanotechnologies for water remediation by assessing their sustainability in terms of efficient removal of pollutants, appropriate methods for monitoring their effectiveness, and protocols for the evaluation of any potential environmental risks. Our purpose is to furnish fruitful guidelines for sustainable water management, able to promote nanoremediation also at European level. In this context, we describe new nanostructured polysaccharide-based materials obtained from renewable resources as alternative efficient and ecosafe solutions for water nano-treatment. We also provide eco-design indications to improve the sustainability of the production of these materials, based on life-cycle assessment methodology.
Highlights
The increasing and rapid deterioration and degradation of the water quality is one of the most challenging issues facing the 21st century
Another largely explored approach to include the impacts of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on human health and the environment in sustainability assessment is the integration of Life-cycle assessment (LCA) with other methodologies, such as Risk Assessment (RA)
In accordance with the requirements above mentioned for a sustainable nanotechnology, both from the environmental and the economic point of view, we considered the TEMPO‐mediated oxidation of cellulose as the most promising technique for the first step in the design of a scalable and ecosafe material for water treatment
Summary
The increasing and rapid deterioration and degradation of the water quality is one of the most challenging issues facing the 21st century. According to the Project of Environmental Nanotechnology web site and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), in the last ten years, almost 70 sites have been successfully treated worldwide at field scale, by using nanoremediation techniques These approaches have significantly reduced time frame (days vs months) and operational costs (up to 80%) in comparison with conventional methods [4,9]. A remediation technology must attend to cost-benefit approaches considering practical immediate issues and long-term expectancies Despite such promising expectations, environmental and human risk assessment associated with the use of ENMs is still a matter of debate and nanoremediation is seen still as an emerging technology [6]. Tuscany 2014–2020, whose objective is the development of innovative, ecofriendly and ecosafe polysaccharide-based nanotechnologies for the remediation of contaminated sediments and waters
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
