Abstract
In the last decades, numerous research studies have been focused on the mitigation of different classes of contaminants by varying types of NPs. Treatment mechanisms were controlled by properties of contaminants (e.g., organic vs inorganic, molecular size, and hydrophobicity, etc.), NPs (e.g., surface charge, area, pore size, and surface functional groups, etc.), and aqueous water (e.g., organic matter types, pH, ionic strength, surfactants, and temperature). Therefore, this chapter includes (1) a literature summary for the removal of contaminants by carbon- and metal-based NPs, (2) a discussion on the controlling mechanisms for the mitigation of contaminants by carbon- and metal-based NPs, and (3) an evaluation on the application and implication of carbon- and metal-based NPs in environmental studies. This chapter also identifies future research needs and challenges on the application of carbon- and metal-based NPs for environmental remediation.
TopBackground
Trace amounts of organic and inorganic contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, perfluorooctanoic acid, arsenic, and lead in sources of drinking water have posed significant health risks to humans in recent years. These micro-based organic and inorganic contaminants are not completely removed by conventional treatment processes. Therefore, alternative innovative treatment technologies have been developed for new applications in wastewater and water treatment. Engineered NPs are safely taking advantage of their unique properties to treat contaminated water using fewer chemicals, electricity, and smaller reactors than current treatment technologies. In addition to this, carbon- and metal-based NPs may enable reuse and regenerate to decline treatment costs. Therefore, more research is needed for the regeneration of carbon- and metal-based NPs in different background water chemistries.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Van Der Waals Interactions: Occur when adjacent molecules come close enough that their outer electron clouds just barely touch.
Electrostatic Interactions: Comprise the attractive and/or repulsive interactions between charged molecules.
p-p Electron-Donor-Acceptor (EDA) Relationships: Combine a cation-p force with a p–p EDA force resulting from charge polarization of the ring’s quadrupole.
Hydrophobic Interactions: The relationship between water and hydrophobes (low water-soluble) molecules.
p-p Coupling Interaction: A type of non-covalent interaction that joins p systems.
Carbon Nanomaterials: A growing family of nanosized material which formed from one or more carbon-based graphene sheets such as black nanoparticles, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, graphene, fibers, and other related forms.
Metal Nanoparticles: Submicron scale entities made from pure metals such as gold, platinum, silver, titanium, zinc, cerium, iron, and thallium.