Environmental Pollutants Remediation Using Phyto-Nanoparticles: An Overview on Synthesis, Characterization, and Remediation Potential

Accumulation of environmental pollution has created a misbalance between the environment and human health. Industrialization, incomplete fuel combustion, use of fertilizers, unsafe disposal of pollutants directly into the atmosphere contributes to their buildup in the environment. Progress in the development of remediation techniques has led the way to employ green synthesized nanoparticles. Phyto-nanoparticles are an improvement in the field of bioremediation in eco-friendly, non-toxic, and cost-effective ways. Nanoparticles adhered to phytocompounds are explored for their potential to remediate pollutants like heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceutical residues, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, biocides, etc. Nanoparticle's size, morphology, and properties are optimized by regulating factors like pH, temperature, light exposure, agitation, etc. For example, Iron nanoparticles synthesized from plants like tea are used to biodegrade heavy metals like chromium, arsenic in contaminated water. This chapter aims to recapitulate the process of bioremediation via emerging Phyto-nanoparticles, their synthesis from easily available plants, techniques used to characterize synthesized nanoparticles, and to investigate remediation potential to act on environmental pollutants and control environmental pollutants matrices in the atmosphere.