Sustainable Water Remediation using Nanotechnology: A Critical Review

This paper aims to provide a review of available published literature in which nanotechnology has the potential to completely change the way water is treated by offering more effective and affordable ways to remove impurities. The purpose of this article is to summarize the research done to date, to highlight successes in the field, and to identify opportunities nanotechnology could bring to science and technology for water remediation. We investigate the suitability of nanoparticles in water treatment applications, emphasizing their high surface area-to-volume ratio and reactivity. The review explores various nanotechnology-based approaches for eliminating contaminants from water, including the use of nanofiltration membranes and nanoparticles such as iron oxide and titanium dioxide for pollutant adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. Additionally, we discuss the development of sensors and monitoring tools utilizing nanoparticles for real-time contaminant identification, as well as nanoscale materials like silver nanoparticles for water disinfection. Our review reveals that nanotechnology holds significant promise in water treatment, particularly in effectively removing a wide range of contaminants including microorganisms, organic compounds, and heavy metals. Nanofiltration membranes have shown remarkable success in eliminating viruses, bacteria, and pathogens, while nanoparticles have demonstrated efficacy in pollutant adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. Moreover, nanotechnology enables the creation of advanced sensors for real-time contaminant detection and nanoscale materials for water disinfection, such as silver nanoparticles. Despite the promising findings, our review acknowledges several challenges that need to be addressed. These include the necessity for scalable production techniques of nanomaterials and the potential negative environmental impacts associated with their use. Addressing these limitations is crucial for the widespread adoption of nanotechnology-based water treatment methods. This review paper contributes to the understanding of sustainable water remediation using nanotechnology by synthesizing current research findings and highlighting the potential of nanotechnology in addressing water contamination challenges. It underscores the importance of overcoming obstacles such as scalable production techniques and environmental concerns to fully realize the benefits of nanotechnology in water treatment.