2D Nanomaterials for Adsorption of Wastewater Pollutants

Water scarcity has been experienced by many countries, and in the upcoming years, this will become a serious problem. Toxic pollutants are released into natural waterbodies by a variety of anthropogenic activities, including mining, agriculture, industry, and domestic households. Therefore, wastewater remediation and pollutant removal, such as dyes and phenol compounds as organic pollutants, and heavy metals and radioactive materials as inorganic pollutants, have become increasingly crucial for protecting the environment. Adsorption technology is a low-cost, quick, and effective physicochemical technique that can remove pollutants, either organic and/or inorganic. Because of their large surface area, highly active surface, and unique physicochemical characteristics, which make them prospective adsorbents, 2D-based materials, and their composites have gained attention in the last ten years for a variety of applications, including wastewater treatment. This chapter introduced the preparation and physicochemical properties of different 2D materials. We discuss the application of 2D-based materials and related mechanisms in the adsorption of different wastewater pollutants. The regeneration and desorption studies of these adsorbents are also covered. Finally, the promising perspectives and the potential directions of 2D-based materials toward the adsorption of wastewater pollutants are outlined.