Applications of nanotechnology in water/wastewater treatment: A review

The applications of nanotechnology in environmental engineering are vast with emphasis in areas, such as pollution prevention, treatment and remediation. In water and wastewater treatment research has been shown that nanoparticles have expedited reactions, eliminated the use of expensive UV lights, and removed organic dyes and inorganic compounds, such as nitrates, efficiently. In case of groundwater remediation, refractory organic compounds have been treated more efficiently and with simpler infrastructure compared to conventional treatment methods. However, there is insufficient data pertaining to pilot or field scale studies. There is also a lack of complete life cycle analysis of the fate and transport of the nanoparticles in the environment, and their general effects on health implications. This review paper presents information on nanotechnology applications in water and wastewater treatment and groundwater remediation.