Nanotechnology for environmental remediation: a sustainable approach

Currently, thousands of metric tons of nanomaterials including engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are delivered to the ecosystems after they have accomplished their useful life or even before. These ecosystems harbor millions of microorganisms, plants, and nonliving components interacting as a system, which could be jeopardized by nanosized materials with properties and characteristics never seen before. However, ENMs could also be an option to dissipate, degrade, or adsorb pollutants, that is, ENMs could be a risk and a solution to different human and environmental issues. Nanotechnology could shape sustainable development (SD) by pursuing SD goals, but it could also hamper them. Therefore this chapter discusses new strategies regarding cutting-edge nanobiotechnologies for the dissipation of pollutants from soil, water, or air, developed at the laboratory and field scale. Phytoremediation, bioaugmentation, and biostimulation technologies work together with plants, bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. Alongside bionanomaterials, nanobiohybrids, smart materials, and nanomachines are the technological bet by developing sustainable technologies for environmental remediation. Consequently, ecofriendly, cheap, and easily manufactured nanotechnologies have attracted attention in the last years. However, the release of new developments with remediation efficiencies never seen before, reduced costs, and no human or environmental risks is still pending.