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Nanomaterials Reactivity and Applications for Wastewater Cleanup

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Nanotechnology, Food Security and Water Treatment

Part of the book series: Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World ((ECSW))

Abstract

Treated wastewater is a reliable water resource for agriculture in arid and semiarid areas. Nanomaterials are promising to clean wastewater. Here we review nanomaterials characteristics, reactivity and potentiality to reduce or remove pollutants from wastewater. Characteristics include high reactivity of surface areas, quantum confinement effects, surface charge density and stability of nanophases. We discuss applications to remove from inorganic and organic contaminants, with focus on reaction kinetics, sorption and degradation. Remediation efficiency is also controlled by wastewater properties such as pH, ionic strength and water temperature.

The use of nanomaterials often allow a removal of more than 80% of most pollutants. Nonetheless, this review explains that the cost, the aggregate formation and the difficulty of recovering most applied nanomaterials are challenging. Alternatively, natural nanomaterials such as nano clay represent an inexpensive and environmental friendly substance for wastewater remediation.

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Abbreviations

CNT:

Carbon nanotubes

DOS:

density of states

FAO:

Food and Agriculture Organization

ISO:

International Organization for Standardization

nZVI:

nanoscale zero valent iron

POPs:

persistent organic pollutants

PZC:

point of zero charge

U.S EPA:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Correspondence to Tamer Elbana .

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Elbana, T., Yousry, M. (2018). Nanomaterials Reactivity and Applications for Wastewater Cleanup. In: Gothandam, K., Ranjan, S., Dasgupta, N., Ramalingam, C., Lichtfouse, E. (eds) Nanotechnology, Food Security and Water Treatment. Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70166-0_8

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