Biodegradation of Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are unique nanomaterials with excellent physicochemical properties commonly used in energy, sensing, biomedical field, and environmental remediation. However, CNTs are inevitably released into the environment while rapidly developing. They are toxic to living organisms in the environment and are problematic to degrade under normal conditions. This chapter systematically describes the properties, applications, and toxicity of CNTs. In addition, the chapter focuses on biodegradation methods of CNTs by microbes and enzymes, along with experimental and molecular simulation methods to explore nanomaterial degradation. Finally, the economic cost of CNTs degradation is estimated.