Clay-polymer nanocomposites: Progress and challenges for use in sustainable water treatment

Mukhopadhyay R 1 , Bhaduri D 2 , Sarkar B 3 , Rusmin R 4 , Hou D 5 , Khanam R 2 Show all authors , Sarkar S 6 , Kumar Biswas J 7 , Vithanage M 8 , Bhatnagar A 9 , Ok YS 10

Affiliations 

  • 1 Division of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India
  • 2 ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India
  • 3 Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 4 Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Negeri Sembilan Branch, Kuala Pilah Campus, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
  • 5 School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
  • 6 ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  • 7 International Centre for Ecological Engineering, Department of Ecological Studies, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India
  • 8 Ecosphere Resilience Research Center, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
  • 9 Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland
  • 10 Korea Biochar Research Centre & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected]
J Hazard Mater, 2020 02 05;383:121125.
PMID: 31541959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121125

Abstract

Contaminant removal from water involves various technologies among which adsorption is considered to be simple, effective, economical, and sustainable. In recent years, nanocomposites prepared by combining clay minerals and polymers have emerged as a novel technology for cleaning contaminated water. Here, we provide an overview of various types of clay-polymer nanocomposites focusing on their synthesis processes, characteristics, and possible applications in water treatment. By evaluating various mechanisms and factors involved in the decontamination processes, we demonstrate that the nanocomposites can overcome the limitations of individual polymer and clay components such as poor specificity, pH dependence, particle size sensitivity, and low water wettability. We also discuss different regeneration and wastewater treatment options (e.g., membrane, coagulant, and barrier/columns) using clay-polymer nanocomposites. Finally, we provide an economic analysis of the use of these adsorbents and suggest future research directions.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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