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Current Trends of Electrospun Nanofibers in Water and Wastewater Treatment

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Part of the book series: Energy, Environment, and Sustainability ((ENENSU))

Abstract

The increased disposal of highly hazardous organic pollutants without sufficient treatment into the natural water bodies has become an immediate threat to the living organisms. Pesticides, surfactants, halogens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, microorganisms, dyes, and other contaminants need to be removed completely by facile and eco-friendly technology. Among various advanced materials, nanofibers symbolize a next generation of nanocatalyst that offers unique properties to overcome water pollution crisis as compared to conventional catalyst. Electrospinning is a most proficient method for the fabrication of nanofibers. Metal oxide nanofibers such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, etc. are attractive material for wastewater treatment due to their capability of total mineralization of organic contaminants under atmospheric conditions with greater removal efficiency. These composite nanofibers, due to their synergetic effect promotes the production of hydroxyl radicals by enhancing their light absorption and better photon harvest property, thereby reduce the recombination of semiconductor surfaces and complete removal contaminant occurs. Thus, this review highlights the recent trends of nanofibers as adsorbent, photocatalyst, filter media, and sensor in water and wastewater treatment.

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Correspondence to Matheswaran Manickam .

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Sekar, A.D., Manickam, M. (2019). Current Trends of Electrospun Nanofibers in Water and Wastewater Treatment. In: Bui, XT., Chiemchaisri, C., Fujioka, T., Varjani, S. (eds) Water and Wastewater Treatment Technologies. Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3259-3_21

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