Abstract
The tremendous increase in the production and consumption of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) in numerous industrial products and applications has augmented the need to understand their role in wastewater treatment technologies. Likewise, the deleterious effects of wastewater on the environment and natural resources have compelled researchers to find out most suitable, economical and environment friendly approaches for its treatment. In this context, the use of TiO2 NPs as the representative of photocatalytic technology for industrial wastewater treatment is coming to the horizon. For centuries, the use of industrial wastewater to feed agriculture land has been a common practice across the globe and the sewage sludge generated from wastewater treatment plants is also used as fertilizer in agricultural soils. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of possible exposure pathways of these NPs, especially in the perspective of wastewater treatment and their impacts on the agro-environment. This review highlights the potential exposure route of TiO2 NPs from industrial applications to wastewater treatment and its impacts on the agro-environment. Key elements of the review present the recent developments of TiO2 NPs in two main sectors including wastewater treatment and the agro-environment along with their potential exposure pathways. Furthermore, the direct exposure routes of these NPs from production to end-user consumption until their end phase needs to be studied in detail and optimization of their suitable applications and controlled use to ensure environmental safety.
Highlights
Nanotechnology has touched every field by its scientific novelties
The present review summarized the recent developments of TiO2 NPs in the field of wastewater treatment, and the agro-environment, their environmental impacts along with an overview of their possible exposure routes
This review briefly discussed the recent developments of TiO2 NPs in wastewater treatment technologies and the agro-environment
Summary
Nanotechnology has touched every field by its scientific novelties. the use of nanotechnology is at the early stage, it appears to have significant effects in different areas. The overall concentration of these NPs in the environment through direct exposure route will be much higher than the indirect release In both soil and water medium, TiO2 NPs can be used for purification purposes due to their unique characteristics of photocatalysis in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light [20,21]. The present review summarized the recent developments of TiO2 NPs in the field of wastewater treatment, and the agro-environment, their environmental impacts along with an overview of their possible exposure routes. As nanotechnology is still in its infancy, so it is timely to consider the potential future problems it could cause before large amounts of NMs/products reach the market, and inevitably reach the environment In this way, we may prevent undesirable largescale effects through proactive approaches
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