Silver–magnetic nanocomposites for water purification

There is a need for protecting and tidying up the natural resources of water, largely polluted by human activities. Impure water leads to health issues, especially in rural areas. Though various techniques had been used for years to purify water, research is still carried out to find out advanced treatment protocols. Here we review the application of nanomaterials to disinfect and purify water resources. We present micro-organisms responsible for waterborne diseases; physical, chemical and biological treatment systems; and disinfection using silver–magnetic nanocomposites.