Use of nanotechnology for wastewater treatment: potential applications, advantages, and limitations

Wastewater management is a critical issue around the globe in a scenario of an ever-increasing population, the build-up of industries, and the scarcity of freshwater resources. In this era of changing climate and depletion of freshwater, wastewater irrigation is not less than a blessing in water-deficient areas. Various types of (organic/inorganic) pollutants are present in the wastewaters that are toxic for the ecosystem and make its treatment necessary before discharging it into an open environment. Concern is growing regarding the development of efficient wastewater treatment technologies. Several conventional technologies are there but the need for some efficient and integrated wastewater management technology cannot be ignored. The use of nanoparticles (NPs) holds terrific ability for this objective and has attained substantial consideration in the recent past. NPs have a high surface area, small size, and adsorption capability of potent toxins making them a good contender for the elimination of pollutants from water. Many types of NPs are present for their effective utilization in wastewater treatment. This chapter will cover the mechanisms involved in nanomaterial-based sustainable wastewater treatment. Properties of NPs that make them a potential competitor for this process as compared to conventional methods. Types of NPs being used for wastewater treatment, advantages of using these NPs, limitations associated with the use of nanotechnology, and research gaps for commercial applications have been discussed comprehensively in this chapter.