A Mini-Review on Natural and Modified Clays for Removal of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants From Wastewater and Their Other Applications

Natural and modified clays have emerged as promising materials for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater due to their abundance, and environmentally friendly materials, low cost, and high adsorption capacity. This mini-review highlights the effectiveness of natural and modified clays in removing pollutants from wastewater due to their high surface area, pore volume, and ion exchange capacity. Physical and chemical modifications can enhance the adsorption properties of clays, leading to increased adsorption capacity and selectivity towards hazardous compounds in water and wastewater and their other applications. In addition to their use for clays, modified clays are also effective for removing organic like dyes, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, and inorganic pollutants such as heavy metals, phosphates, and nitrates from wastewater. This mini-review also describes the use of clay minerals in therapeutic activities and some biological activities. While the use of natural and modified clays for wastewater treatment is promising, further research is needed to optimize their synthesis and characterization, as well as investigate their long-term performance and environmental impact.