Scope of Nanomaterials in Treating Wastewater Produced by Industries

Hygienic water is an important need for humans as it is significant for well-being of society and building economy. Huge rise in population, expansion of industrialization, agricultural practices and much more results in the generation of high amount of wastewater. This wastewater contains high number of pathogens as well as it is highly polluted. In recent times, different methods for treatment of wastewater have been explored and every method was limited due to some disadvantage such as expensive, time consuming or less efficient. Nanotechnology has diverse applications and is helpful for human welfare, primarily due to the active surface area of nanoparticles. In the context of wastewater treatment, nanotechnology is emerging as an efficient and effective solution. The unique properties of many nanomaterials enable novel technologies for contaminant removal, microbial control, sensing and monitoring, and resource recovery. Moreover, nanomaterials can absorb pollutants from water due to their high surface area. In addition, nanomaterials can be used to create membranes for filtration processes. This chapter discuss about the recent techniques that have been come up using nanotechnology for the treatment of wastewater. These techniques are based on principles like, sensing technology, photocatalysts, nanofiltration, disinfectant or it can be adsorption and much more. Furthermore, this chapter discusses about the future prospectives as well as limitations of using those specific nanomaterials in treating wastewater.