Saponite-inspired Materials as Remediation Technologies for Water Treatment: an Overview

Saponite, a clay mineral from the smectite group, has distinctive characteristics and properties that allow structural modifications to expand its potential to remove hazardous contaminants in aqueous media. We conducted a systematic study on the use of saponite in photocatalytic and adsorption processes for water treatment. The Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases were used to find scientific publications. Several methods for modifying saponite have been described. Titanium dioxide is the most widely used in photocatalysis. In adsorption, saponite derivatives are very efficient materials for treating water and wastewater. They are applied mainly to remove heavy metals, surfactants, hydrocarbons, caffeine, toxic metabolites, and dyes. Therefore, saponite is a clay mineral that could be better exploited in environmental applications, as it has promising properties for effectively removing organic and inorganic pollutants.