Abstract
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) have been detected in wastewater effluents and surface water bodies at concentrations ranging from parts per trillion levels (ng L−1) to parts per billion (µg L−1) levels. Currently, engineered wastewater treatment plants are unable to remove PPCPs and EDCs completely, resulting in the treatment plants becoming a source of secondary pollution. Research on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has shown that the tubular cylinders of carbon atoms due to their large specific surface area and developed pore structure are capable of adsorbing and remediating PPCPs and EDCs. They also possess excellent photocatalytic activity and high mechanical strength. When combined with membrane filtration, CNTs demonstrate excellent removal of PPCPs and EDCs with removal up to ~ 95% in optimum experimental conditions. Nanocomposite membranes containing CNTs have shown promising results in the removal of triclosan, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. In addition to its proven potential in adsorption and membrane filtration, CNTs can also be used in photocatalytic degradation of a variety of organic compounds including PPCPs and EDCs. When CNT is used as a photocatalyst, it generates reactive oxygen species that can oxidize contaminants to CO2, and H2O. This study provides a comprehensive literature review of the application of CNTs for removal of the emerging contaminant of concern from water and wastewater. Their application, particularly in the areas of adsorption, filtration and photocatalytic degradation of PPCPs and EDCs, is discussed in detail. Also, the feasibility of a full-scale implementation of CNTs in existing water and wastewater treatment plants is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ihsanullah Abbas A, Al-Amer AM et al (2016) Heavy metal removal from aqueous solution by advanced carbon nanotubes: critical review of adsorption applications. Sep Purif Technol 157:141–161
Ma Z, Yin X, Ji X et al (2016) Evaluation and removal of emerging nanoparticle contaminants in water treatment: a review. Desalination Water Treat 57:11221–11232
Yu F, Sun S, Han S et al (2016) Adsorption removal of ciprofloxacin by multi-walled carbon nanotubes with different oxygen contents from aqueous solutions. Chem Eng J 285:588–595
Hu Z, Cheng Z (2015) Removal of diclofenac from aqueous solution with multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified by nitric acid. Chin J Chem Eng 23:1551–1556
Murgolo S, Petronella F, Ciannarella R et al (2015) UV and solar-based photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants by nano-sized TiO2 grown on carbon nanotubes. Catal Today 240:114–124
Jung Son A, Her N et al (2015) Removal of endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products in water using carbon nanotubes: a review. J Ind Eng Chem 27:1–11
Kanel SR, Misak H, Nepal D et al (2016) The use of carbon nanotube yarn as a filter medium to treat nitroaromatic-contaminated water. New Carbon Mater 31:415–423
Joseph L, Heo J, Park YG et al (2011) Adsorption of bisphenol A and 17 α-ethinylestradiol on single-walled carbon nanotubes from seawater and brackish water. Desalination 281:68–74
Wang WL, Wu Q-Y, Wang Z-M et al (2015) Adsorption removal of antiviral drug oseltamivir and its metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate by carbon nanotubes: effects of carbon nanotube properties and media. J Environ Manage 162:326–333
Kiran Kumar A, Venkata Mohan S (2012) Removal of natural and synthetic endocrine-disrupting estrogens by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as adsorbent: kinetic and mechanistic evaluation. Sep Purif Technol 87:22–30
Ahmed MB, Zhou JL, Ngo HH, Guo W (2015) Adsorptive removal of antibiotics from water and wastewater: progress and challenges. Sci Total Environ 532:112–126
Tian Y, Gao B, Morales VL et al (2013) Removal of sulfamethoxazole and sulfapyridine by carbon nanotubes in fixed-bed columns. Chemosphere 90:2597–2605
Pan B, Xing B (2008) Adsorption mechanisms of organic chemicals on carbon nanotubes. Environ Sci Technol 42:9005–9013
Celik E, Park H, Choi H, Choi H (2011) Carbon nanotube blended polyethersulfone membranes for fouling control in water treatment. Water Res 45:274–282
Takagi H, Soneda Y, Hatori H et al (2007) Effects of nitric acid and heat treatment on hydrogen adsorption of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Aust J Chem 60:519–523
Piao Y, Burns A, Kim J et al (2008) Designed fabrication of silica-based nanostructured particle systems for nanomedicine applications. Adv Func Mater 18:3745–3758
Chen G-C, Shan X-Q, Wang Y-S, et al. (2008) Effects of Copper, Lead, and Cadmium on the Sorption and Desorption of Atrazine onto and from Carbon Nanotubes. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es801376w. Accessed 22 Aug 2018
Chen W, Duan L, Zhu D (2007) Adsorption of polar and nonpolar organic chemicals to carbon nanotubes. Environ Sci Technol 41:8295–8300
Aris AZ, Shamsuddin AS, Praveena SM (2014) Occurrence of 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) in the environment and effect on exposed biota: a review. Environ Int 69:104–119
Pan B, Lin D, Mashayekhi H, Xing B (2008) Adsorption and hysteresis of bisphenol A and 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol on carbon nanomaterials. Environ Sci Technol 42:5480–5485
Heo J, Flora JRV, Her N et al (2012) Removal of bisphenol A and 17β-estradiol in single-walled carbon nanotubes–ultrafiltration (SWNTs–UF) membrane systems. Sep Purif Technol 90:39–52
Fontecha-Cámara MA, López-Ramón MV, Álvarez-Merino MA, Moreno-Castilla C (2007) Effect of surface chemistry, solution ph, and ionic strength on the removal of herbicides diuron and amitrole from water by an activated carbon fiber. Langmuir 23:1242–1247
Zhang S, Shao T, Bekaroglu SSK, Karanfil T (2010) Adsorption of synthetic organic chemicals by carbon nanotubes: effects of background solution chemistry. Water Res 44:2067–2074
Xie W-H, Shiu W-Y, Mackay D (1997) A review of the effect of salts on the solubility of organic compounds in seawater. Mar Environ Res 44:429–444
Schlautman MA, Yim S, Carraway ER et al (2004) Testing a surface tension-based model to predict the salting out of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in model environmental solutions. Water Res 38:3331–3339
Long RQ, Yang RT (2001) Communications to the Editor. J Am Chem Soc, pp 5112–5113
Kim H, Hwang YS, Sharma VK (2014) Adsorption of antibiotics and iopromide onto single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Chem Eng J 255:23–27
Azargohar R, Dalai K (2008) Steam and KOH activation of biochar: experimental and modeling studies. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 110:413–421
Mitchell SM, Subbiah M, Ullman JL, Frear C, Call DR (2015) Evaluation of 27 different biochars for potential sequestration of antibiotic residues in food animal production environments. J Environ Chem Eng 3(1):162–169
Zhang D, Pan B, Wu M et al (2011) Adsorption of sulfamethoxazole on functionalized carbon nanotubes as affected by cations and anions. Environ Pollut 159:2616–2621
Yanyan L, Kurniawan TA, Albadarin AB, Walker G (2018) Enhanced removal of acetaminophen from synthetic wastewater using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) chemically modified with NaOH, HNO3/H2SO4, ozone, and/or chitosan. J Mol Liq 251:369–377
Keiluweit M, Kleber M (2009) Molecular-level interactions in soils and sediments: the role of aromatic -systems. Environ Sci Technol 43:3421–3429
Chakrapani N, Zhang YM, Nayak SK, Moore JA, Carroll DL, Choi YY, Ajayan PM (2003) Chemisorption of acetone on carbon nanotubes. J Phys Chem B 107:9308–9311
Fagan SB, Souza Filho AG, Lima JOG, Filho JM, Ferreira OP, Mazali IO, Alves OL, Dresselhaus MS (2004) 1,2-Dichlorobenzene interacting with carbon nanotubes. Nano Lett 4:1285–1288
Chen W, Duan L, Wang LL, Zhu DQ (2008) Adsorption of hydroxyl- and amino-substituted aromatics to carbon nanotubes. Environ Sci Technol 42:6862–6868
Zhu DQ, Pignatello JJ (2005) Characterization of aromatic compound sorptive interactions with black carbon (charcoal) assisted by graphite as a model. Environ Sci Technol 39:2033–2041
Heo J, Kim H, Her N et al (2012) Natural organic matter removal in single-walled carbon nanotubes–ultrafiltration membrane systems. Desalination 298:75–84
Jermann D, Pronk W, Boller M, Schäfer AI (2009) The role of NOM fouling for the retention of estradiol and ibuprofen during ultrafiltration. J Membr Sci 329:75–84
Peng F, Hu C, Jiang Z (2007) Novel poly(vinyl alcohol)/carbon nanotube hybrid membranes for pervaporation separation of benzene/cyclohexane mixtures. J Membr Sci 297:236–242
Song B, Xu P, Zeng G, Gong J, Zhang P, Feng H, Liu Y, Ren R (2018) Carbon nanotube-based environmental technologies: the adopted properties, primary mechanisms, and challenges. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 17:571–590
Yu F, Yong L, Han S, Ma J (2016) Adsorptive removal of antibiotics from aqueous solution using carbon materials. Chemosphere 153:365–385
Gray SR, Ritchie CB, Tran T et al (2008) Effect of membrane character and solution chemistry on microfiltration performance. Water Res 42:743–753
Czech B, Buda W (2015) Photocatalytic treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater using new multiwall-carbon nanotubes/TiO2/SiO2 nanocomposites. Environ Res 137:176–184
Zhou Z, Jiang J-Q (2015) Treatment of selected pharmaceuticals by ferrate (VI): performance, kinetic studies, and identification of oxidation products. J Pharm Biomed Anal 106:37–45
Jitianu A, Cacciaguerra T, Benoit R et al (2004) Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotubes–TiO2 nanocomposites. Carbon 42:1147–1151
Swarnakar P, Kanel SR, Nepal D et al (2013) Silver deposited titanium dioxide thin film for photocatalysis of organic compounds using natural light. Sol Energy 88:242–249
Parham H, Bates S, Xia Y, Zhu Y (2013) A highly efficient and versatile carbon nanotube/ceramic composite filter. Carbon 54:215–223
Liu W, Feng Y, Tang H et al (2016) Immobilization of silver nanocrystals on carbon nanotubes using ultra-thin molybdenum sulfide sacrificial layers for antibacterial photocatalysis in visible light. Carbon 96:303–310
Ji Y, Zeng C, Ferronato C et al (2012) Nitrate-induced photodegradation of atenolol in aqueous solution: kinetics, toxicity, and degradation pathways. Chemosphere 88:644–649
Zhang Y, Zhou L, Zeng C et al (2013) Photoreactivity of hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes and its effects on the photodegradation of atenolol in water. Chemosphere 93:1747–1754
Cho H-H, Smith BA, Wnuk JD et al (2008) Influence of surface oxides on the adsorption of naphthalene onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Environ Sci Technol 42:2899–2905
Apul OG, Karanfil T (2015) Adsorption of synthetic organic contaminants by carbon nanotubes: a critical review. Water Res 68:34–55
Babel S, Kurniawan TA (2003) Low-cost adsorbents for heavy metals uptake from contaminated water: a review. J Hazard Mater 97:219–243
Esawi AMK, Farag MM (2007) Carbon nanotube reinforced composites: potential and current challenges. Mater Des 28:2394–2401
Ahmmad B, Kanomata K, Hirose F (2014) Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production on TiO2 by using carbon materials. Int J Chem Mater Sci Eng 8:24–29
Kang S, Mauter MS, Elimelech M (2009) Microbial cytotoxicity of carbon-based nanomaterials: implications for river water and wastewater effluent. Environ Sci Technol 43:2648–2653
Wang Y, Zhu J, Huang H, Cho H (2015) Carbon nanotube composite membranes for microfiltration of pharmaceuticals and personal care products: Capabilities and potential mechanisms. J Membr Sci 479:165–174
Zhao H, Liu X, Cao Z, Zhan Y, Shi X, Yang Y, Zhou J, Xu J (2016) Adsorption behavior and mechanism of chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, and non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals on multi-walled carbon nanotubes. J Hazard Mater 310:235–245
Im JK, Heo J, Boateng LK, Her N, Flora JRV, Yoon J, Zoh K, Yoon Y (2013) Ultrasonic degradation of acetaminophen and naproxen in the presence of single-walled carbon nanotubes. J Hazard Mater 254:284–292
Martinez C, Canle ML, Fernandez MI, Santaballa JA, Faria J (2011) Aqueous degradation of diclofenac by heterogenous photocatalysis using nanostructure materials. Appl Catal B: Environ 107:110–118
Niu J, Zhang L, Li Y, Zhao J, Lv S, Xiao K (2013) Effects of environmental factors on sulfamethoxazole photodegradation under simulated sunlight irradiation: kinetic and mechanism. J Environ Sci 25(6):1098–1106
Ji L, Chen W, Zheng S, Xu Z, Zhu D (2009) Adsorption of sulfonamide antibiotics to multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Langmuir 25(19):11608–11613
Stackelberg PE, Gibs J, Furlong ET, Meyer MT, Zaugg SD, Lippincott RL (2007) Efficiency of conventional drinking-water-treatment processes in removal of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds. Sci Total Environ 377(2–3):255–272
Mohammadi A, Kazemipour M, Ranjbar H, Walker RB, Ansari M (2015) Amoxicillin removal from aqueous media using multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Fuller Nanotub Car N 23(2):165–169
Fernández AML, Rendueles M, Díaz M (2014) Competitive retention of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and sulfamethazine (SMZ) from synthetic solutions in a strong anionic ion exchange resin. Solvent Extr Ion Exc 32(7):763–781
Choi KJ, Son HJ, Kim SH (2007) Ionic treatment for removal of sulfonamide and tetracycline classes of antibiotic. Sci Total Environ 387:247–256
Pouretedal HR, Sadegh N (2014) Effective removal of Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Tetracycline and Penicillin G from aqueous solutions using activated carbon nanoparticles prepared from vine wood. J Water Process Eng 1:64–73
Genç N, Dogan EC (2015) Adsorption kinetic of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin on bentonite, activated carbon, zeolite, and pumice. Desal Water Treat 53(3):785–793
Adams C, Wang Y, Loftin K, Meyer M (2002) Removal of antibiotics from surface and distilled water in conventional water treatment processes. J Environ Eng 128(3):253–260
Méndez-Díaz JD, Prados-Joya G, Rivera-Utrilla J, Leyva-Ramos R, Sánchez-Polo M, Ferro-García MA, Medellín-Castillo NA (2010) Kinetic study of the adsorption of nitroimidazole antibiotics on activated carbons in aqueous phase. J Colloid Interface Sci 345(2):481–490
Putra EK, Pranowo R, Sunarso J, Indraswati N, Ismadji S (2009) Performance of activated carbon and bentonite for adsorption of amoxicillin from wastewater: mechanisms, isotherms and kinetics. Water Res 43(9):2419–2430
Moussavi G, Alahabadi A, Yaghmaeian K, Eskandari M (2013) Preparation, characterization and adsorption potential of the NH4Cl-induced activated carbon for the removal of amoxicillin antibiotic from water. Chem Eng J 217:119–128
Wang Z, Yu X, Pan B, Xing B (2010) Norfloxacin sorption and its thermodynamics on surface-modified carbon nanotubes. Environ Sci Technol 44:978–984
Li H, Zhang D, Han X, Xing B (2014) Adsorption of antibiotic ciprofloxacin on carbon nanotubes: pH dependence and thermodynamics. Chemosphere 95:150–155
Zhao H, Lang Y (2018) Adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of florfenicol by magnetic functionalized biochar and reed biochar. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 88:152–160
Singla P, Yadav S, Goel N, Singhal S (2018) Morphologically different boron nitride nanomaterials as efficient antibiotic carriers: adsorption isotherm and kinetics appraisal. Anal Chem Lett 8:163–176
Rivera-Utrilla J, Prados-Joya G, Sánchez-Polo M, Ferro-García MA, Bautista-Toledo I (2009) Removal of nitroimidazole antibiotics from aqueous solution by adsorption/bioadsorption on activated carbon. J Hazard Mater 170:298–305
Oleszczuk P, Xing B (2011) Influence of anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants on adsorption and desorption of oxytetracycline by ultrasonically treated and non-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Chemosphere 85:1312–1317
Wei J, Sun W, Pan W, Yu X, Sun G, Jiang H (2017) Comparing the effects of different oxygen-containing functional groups on sulfonamides adsorption by carbon nanotubes: experiments and theoretical calculation. Chem Eng J 312:167–179
Yu F, Ma J, Han S (2014) Adsorption of tetracycline from aqueous solutions onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes with different oxygen contents. Sci Rep 4:5326
Lu Y, Jiang M, Wang C, Wang Y, Yang W (2013) Effects of matrix and functional groups on tylosin adsorption onto resins and carbon nanotubes. Water Air Soil Pollut 224:1536
Ahmadi M, Motlagh HR, Jaafarzadeh N, Mostoufi A, Saeedi R, Barzegar G, Jorfi S (2017) Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and real pharmaceutical wastewater using MWCNT/TiO2 nano-composite. J Environ Manage 186:55–63
Yuan C, Hung C, Li H, Chang W (2016) Photodegradation of ibuprofen by TiO2 co-doping with urea and functionalized CNT irradiated with visible light–Effect of doping content and pH. Chemosphere 155:471–478
Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge Ms. Kelly Donovan, graphic artist at California State University, Fullerton, for assisting with the graphic illustration shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7. This research was supported by the Engineering and Computer Science Incentive Grant awarded to the lead author Dr. Sudarshan Kurwadkar during the Spring 2018 semester. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Air Force Institute of Technology, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the United States government.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
We have declared that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kurwadkar, S., Hoang, T.V., Malwade, K. et al. Application of carbon nanotubes for removal of emerging contaminants of concern in engineered water and wastewater treatment systems. Nanotechnol. Environ. Eng. 4, 12 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41204-019-0059-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41204-019-0059-1