Water pollution abatement using waste-derived materials: a sustainable approach

The rapidly growing population has resulted in increased water demand and generation of high volume of solid wastes. Both excess solid waste and poor water reuse efficiency primarily result from improper management. Accordingly, to reduce the associated environmental burdens, the utilization of waste-derived material for water treatment can be considered as a sustainable approach. The current chapter aims to provide a holistic approach to solid waste management by generating value-added materials and their potential application for water pollution abatement. Different classes of waste, including agriculture, industrial, and electronic, and their possible activation methods are discussed. Also, the potential applications of such waste-derived products in different water treatment techniques, such as adsorption, catalysis, and electrochemical application, are detailed. Overall, the possibilities of utilizing waste to derive value-added products that can be employed for pollution abatement of contaminated water and achieve circular economic concepts are reviewed.