Polymer-Based Nanocomposites for Removal of Pollutants from Different Environment Using Catalytic Degradation

Abstract

AbstractThermal power plants, polymer and paper industries have been growing at an accelerated pace to fulfil the basic human needs and energy requirements. However, these industries release harmful and carcinogenic pollutants like fly-ash, heavy metals, biphenyls, dyes, water-soluble impurities, and greenhouse gases, which are increasingly deteriorating our environment. Hence, the use of a relatively economic catalytic degradation process that targets and degrades both organic and inorganic pollutants is the need of the hour. This chapter covers the use of advanced nanomaterials and speciality polymer nanocomposites for catalytic degradation due to availability of high surface area and potential high efficiency. Nanomaterials such as nano-particles, nano-fibers, nano-tubes, and polymeric nanocomposites are widely used for the removal of contaminants from different environments. Organic contaminants such as halogenated alkanes, brominated methane, other polychlorinated hydrocarbons, pesticides, and dyes can be degraded by nanomaterials such as zero valence metals Fe, Cu, Zn and bimetals like Fe/Pd, Fe/Ni and Pd/Zn, etc. Likewise, nano-semiconductors such as ZnO, CdS, and WO3, also serve as catalysts for the selective degradation of targeted pollutants. However, an aqueous solution of fine nano-particles cannot be used directly for catalytic degradation because there is a possibility of their agglomeration. To solve this problem, immobilization of such nanocatalysts can be achieved on the surface of porous resin, ion exchange, and polymeric membranes, which minimizes particle loss and their agglomeration. Applications involving such polymer nanocomposites, require the matrix to exhibit high antioxidant behaviour during illumination by the ultraviolet (UV) light for the production of highly reducing and oxidation agents to eliminate environmental pollutants. In line with this, recent fabrication procedures, advances in research and prospects of polymer based-nano composites for environmental remediation and protection are discussed, in details.KeywordsCatalytic degradationPolymer nano compositeEnvironmental remediation