Porous Carbon Materials for Water Treatments

Organic and inorganic pollutants discharged via industrial effluents affect aquatic ecosystems causing severe threat to living being. In particular, porous carbon materials (PCMs) are appealing materials along with various uses in wastewater treatment. Generally, PCMs are known for their many pores, high chemical stabilities, high specific surfaces, unique optical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics, and ease of functionalization. Numerous physical and chemical methods have been used to functionalize carbonaceous materials that are consistent and reproducible for pore creation, surface improvement, and tailoring mechanisms. Thus, graphene and graphite materials offer tremendous electrical mobility for organic contaminants removal. In addition, carbon materials-based activated carbon has a broad range of chemical, structural, and textural compositions, which make it extensively employed in water remediation due to its adsorption characteristics. This chapter aims to highlight various types of PCMs and summarize their use as an adsorbent for heavy metals, dyes, and organic or inorganic compounds to purify water.