Nanoparticles: An Emerging Weapon for Mitigation/Removal of Various Environmental Pollutants for Environmental Safety

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a recent field of technology and nanoparticle materials are fundamental units that measure within the range 1–100 nm with several types of morphologies. They have exceptional and unique catalytic properties, which are associated with their size and are changed from their bulk materials. These nanoparticle materials are prepared by the various methods such as chemical, physical and biological methods. The prepared nanoparticles are investigated by numerous characterisation techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, absorbance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy. XRD revealed the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. SEM and TEM images provides information on the morphology and particle size distribution, and BET revealed the surface properties of the nanoparticles. Optical properties are investigated by absorbance and photoluminescence spectroscopic techniques. The effective photo-catalysis of organic toxic pollutants and heavy metals from the environment have been a challenging subject for human health. Much research has explored the environmental behaviour of nanostructured materials for the effective removal of hazardous organic pollutants and heavy metals, existing both in the surface and underground wastewater. The goal of this chapter is to indicate the outstanding removal capability and environmental remediation of nanostructured materials for various toxic organic pollutants and heavy metal ions.