Nanoadsorbents in the removal of organic pollutants

The increase in industrial, human, and agricultural activities results in a booster in the use of chemical products in the past years. However, the occurrence of emerging pollutants in wastewater and wastewater treatment systems, such as pharmaceutical and personal care products, pesticides, and gasoline additives, is a relevant issue that requires remediation. The methods usually used in conventional treatments exhibit an inefficient performance in the removal of these contaminants, and consequentially they return from treatment plants. Owing to their properties (complex chemical structure and low biodegradability), these compounds need to be removed from water and require more accurate prevention and control. The liquid-phase adsorption technique combined with nanotechnology is an excellent tool for removing contaminants from water. The unique characteristics of nanomaterials, such as large surface area and physicochemical properties, make them exceptional adsorbents, improving the limitation associated with the conventional materials.