Nanomaterials for Monitoring and Remediation of Water Pollution

Abstract

Water shortage and pollution are now serious challenges for many countries. Nanomaterials are promising new tools for water quality management due to their unique physicochemical properties, high economic benefit, high removal efficiency and environmental friendliness. Here we present four types of nanomaterials for water and wastewater treatment: nanofiltration membranes, nano-photocatalytic materials, nano-adsorption materials and nano-reducing materials. We discuss their properties, application scope and mechanism of pollutant removal. We also review nanomaterials used for water quality monitoring, especially for the detection of the extremely low concentration organic pollutants, inorganic pollutants and pathogens. Such nanomaterials include carbon nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles, noble metal nanomaterials and quantum dots.