Arsenic removal by nanoparticles: a review

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Jun;22(11):8094-123. doi: 10.1007/s11356-015-4307-z. Epub 2015 Mar 21.

Abstract

Contamination of natural waters with arsenic, which is both toxic and carcinogenic, is widespread. Among various technologies that have been employed for arsenic removal from water, such as coagulation, filtration, membrane separation, ion exchange, etc., adsorption offers many advantages including simple and stable operation, easy handling of waste, absence of added reagents, compact facilities, and generally lower operation cost, but the need for technological innovation for water purification is gaining attention worldwide. Nanotechnology is considered to play a crucial role in providing clean and affordable water to meet human demands. This review presents an overview of nanoparticles and nanobased adsorbents and its efficiencies in arsenic removal from water. The paper highlights the application of nanomaterials and their properties, mechanisms, and advantages over conventional adsorbents for arsenic removal from contaminated water.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Arsenic / analysis
  • Arsenic / isolation & purification*
  • Bentonite / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Chitosan / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / trends
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Photochemical Processes
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Fenton's reagent
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Bentonite
  • titanium dioxide
  • Chitosan
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Titanium
  • Iron
  • Arsenic