Skip to main content

Remediation of Water Contaminants

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Ecomaterials

Abstract

The draining of organic pollutants and other toxicants from different industries such as leather, paper, pharmaceutical, steel plant to the water body may cause hazardous effect on the human health, aquatic life, and environment. Water treatment is a crucial step before discharge into environment. For this purpose, in last few years, there has been an enormous research and development for water treatment using various methodologies. Among them, for the removal of the contaminants present in water body, physical adsorption and degradation has been developed as advanced method due to its superiority to others in terms of high efficiency, economic suitability, and easy to design and operation. To consider this as a major and challenging problem for several hazardous impacts on the human and aquatic objects, several materials have been used for the remediation of water. These fascinating materials include semiconducting materials and other metal oxides/metal with certain modifiers including carbonaceous materials, metal, and nonmetal in forms of composites or dopants which in turn can improve the property of the individuals for the purpose of water remediation. The present chapter highlights effect of water pollution and its remediation using different materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 979.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Grey D, Garrick D, Blackmore D, Kelman J, Muller M, Sadoff C (2013) Water security in one blue planet: twenty-first century policy challenges for science. Math Phys Eng Sci 371:20120406

    Google Scholar 

  2. Adeleye AS, Conway JR, Garner K, Huang Y, Su Y, Keller AA (2016) Engineered nanomaterials for water treatment and remediation: costs, benefits, and applicability. Chem Eng J 286:640–662

    Google Scholar 

  3. (a) World Health Organization (2015) Drinking water. Factsheet no. 391; (b) World Health Organization and UNICEF (2013) Progress on sanitation and drinking-water. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  4. Leonard P, Hearty S, Brennan J (2003) Advances in biosensors for detection of pathogens in food and water. Enzym Microb Technol 32:3–13

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ashbolt NJ (2004) Microbial contamination of drinking water and disease outcomes in developing regions. Toxicology 198:229–238

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hutton G, Haller L, Bartram J (2007) Economic and health effects of increasing coverage of low cost household drinking water supply and sanitation interventions. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  7. Schwarzenbach RP, Escher BI, Fenner K, Hofstetter TB, Johnson CA, Von Gunten U, Wehrli B (2006) The challenge of micropollutants in aquatic systems. Science 313:1072–1077

    Google Scholar 

  8. (a) Ferroudj N, Nzimoto J, Davidson A, Talbot D, Briot E, Dupuis V, Abramson S (2013) Maghemite nanoparticles and maghemite/silica nanocomposite microspheres as magnetic Fenton catalysts for the removal of water pollutants. Appl Catal B Environ 136:9–18; (b) Anjum M, Miandad R, Waqas M, Gehany F, Barakat MA (2016) Remediation of wastewater using various nano-materials. Arab J Chem. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2016.10.004

  9. Ritter L, Solomon K, Sibley P (2002) Sources, pathways, and relative risks of contaminants in surface water and ground water: a perspective prepared for the Walkerton inquiry. J Toxicol Environ Health 65:1–142

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fawell J, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ (2003) Contaminants in drinking water. Br Med Bull 68:199–208

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rodriguez-Mozaz S, de Alda MJL, Barcelo D (2004) Monitoring of estrogens, pesticides and bisphenol A in natural waters and drinking water treatment plants by solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1045:85–92

    Google Scholar 

  12. Falconer IR, Humpage AR (2005) Health risk assessment of cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) toxins in drinking water. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2:43–50

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wang Y, Tang XW, Chen YM, Zhan LT, Li ZZ, Tang Q (2009) Adsorption behavior and mechanism of Cd(II) on loess soil from China. J Hazard Mater 172:30–37

    Google Scholar 

  14. Liu B, Xu J, Ran SH, Wang ZR, Chen D, Shen GZ (2012) High-performance photodetectors, photocatalysts, and gas sensors based on polyol reflux synthesized porous ZnO nanosheets. CrystEngComm 14:4582–4588

    Google Scholar 

  15. Tian J, Sang YH, Yu GW, Jiang HD, Mu XN, Liu H (2013) Asymmetric supercapacitors based on graphene/MnO2 nanospheres and graphene/MoO3 nanosheets with high energy density. Adv Mater 25:5074–5083

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jia WN, Wu X, Jia BX, Qu FY, Fan HJ (2013) Self-assembled porous ZnS nanospheres with high photocatalytic performance. Sci Adv Mater 5:1329–1336

    Google Scholar 

  17. Pereira L, Alves M (2012) Environmental impact and remediation. In: Malik A, Grohmann E (eds) Environmental protection strategies for sustainable development, vol 4. Springer, New York, pp 111–162

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gajda S (1996) Synthetic dyes based on environmental considerations. Dyes Pigm 30:1–20

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ivanov K (1996) Possibilities of using zeolite as filler and carrier for dyestuffs in paper. Papier-Zeitschrift fur die Erzeugung von Holzstoff Zellstoff Papier und Pappe 50:456–460

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kabdaşli I, Tünay O, Orhon D (1996) Wastewater control and management in a leather tanning district. Water Sci Technol 40:261–267

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bensalah N, Alfaro M, Martínez-Huitle C (2009) Electrochemical treatment of synthetic wastewaters containing Alphazurine A dye. Chem Eng J 149:348–352

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wróbel D, Boguta A, Ion RM (2001) Mixtures of synthetic organic dyes in a photoelectrochemical cell. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 138:7–22

    Google Scholar 

  23. Dawood S, Sen TK, Phan C (2014) Synthesis and characterization of novel-activated carbon from waste biomass pine cone and its application in the removal of Congo red dye from aqueous solution by adsorption. Water Air Soil Pollut 225:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  24. Wong Y (2004) Adsorption of acid dyes on chitosan – equilibrium isotherm analyses. Process Biochem 39:695–704

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hoffmann MR, Martin ST, Choi W, Bahnemann DW (1995) Environmental applications of semiconductor photocatalysis. Chem Rev 95:69–96

    Google Scholar 

  26. Robles AC, Martinez E, Alcantar IR, Frontana C, Gutierrez LG (2013) Development of an activated carbon-packed microbial bioelectrochemical system for azo dye degradation. Bioresour Technol 127:37–43

    Google Scholar 

  27. Clarke E, Anliker R (1980) Organic dyes and pigments. Handb Environ Chem 3:181–215

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mishra G, Tripathy M (1993) A critical review of the treatments for decolourization of textile effluent. Colourage 40:35–35

    Google Scholar 

  29. Banat IM (1996) Microbial decolorization of textile-dye containing effluents: a review. Bioresour Technol 58:217–227

    Google Scholar 

  30. Gupta G, Prasad G, Singh V (1990) Removal of chrome dye from aqueous solutions by mixed adsorbents: fly ash and coal. Water Res 24:45–50

    Google Scholar 

  31. Daraei P, Madaeni SS, Salehi E, Ghaemi N, Ghari HS, Khadivi MA, Rostami E (2013) Novel thin film composite membrane fabricated by mixed matrix nanoclay/chitosan on PVDF microfiltration support: preparation, characterization and performance in dye remova. J Membr Sci 436:97–108

    Google Scholar 

  32. Dutta K, Mukhopadhyay S, Bhattacharjee S, Chaudhuri B (2001) Chemical oxidation of methylene blue using a Fenton-like reaction. J Hazard Mater 84:57–71

    Google Scholar 

  33. Moghaddam SS, Moghaddam MA, Arami M (2010) Coagulation/flocculation process for dye removal using sludge from water treatment plant: optimization through response surface methodology. J Hazard Mater 175:651–657

    Google Scholar 

  34. Gao Y, Pu X, Zhang D, Ding G, Shao X, Ma J (2012) Combustion synthesis of graphene oxide–TiO2 hybrid materials for photodegradation of methyl orange. Carbon 50:4093–4101

    Google Scholar 

  35. Wang S, Li H, Xu L (2006) Application of zeolite MCM-22 for basic dye removal from wastewater. J Colloid Interface Sci 295:71–78

    Google Scholar 

  36. Wang S, Li H, Xie S, Liu S, Xu L (2006) Physical and chemical regeneration of zeolitic adsorbents for dye removal in wastewater treatment. Chemosphere 65:82–87

    Google Scholar 

  37. Gandhi MR, Vasudevan S, Shibayama A, Yamada M (2016) Graphene and graphene-based composites: a rising star in water purification – a comprehensive overview. ChemistrySelect 1:4358–4385

    Google Scholar 

  38. Upadhyay RK, Soin N, Roy SS (2014) Role of graphene/metal oxide composites as photocatalysts, adsorbents and disinfectants in water treatment: a review. RSC Adv 4:3823–3851

    Google Scholar 

  39. Perreault F, Faria FDA, Elimelech M (2015) Environmental applications of graphene-based nanomaterials. Chem Soc Rev 2015(44):5861–5896

    Google Scholar 

  40. Chatterjee D, Photochem DSJ (2005) Visible light induced photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. J Photochem Photobiol C Photchem Rev 6:186–205

    Google Scholar 

  41. Moo JGS, Khezri B, Webster RD, Pumera M (2014) Graphene oxides prepared by Hummers’, Hofmann’s, and Staudenmaier’s methods: dramatic influences on heavy-metal-ion adsorption. ChemPhysChem 15:2922–2929

    Google Scholar 

  42. Wang S, Sun H, Ang HM, Tad MO (2013) Adsorptive remediation of environmental pollutants using novel graphene-based nanomaterials. Chem Eng J 226:336–347

    Google Scholar 

  43. Mahata P, Aarthi T, Madras G, Natarajan S (2007) Photocatalytic degradation of dyes and organics with nanosized GdCoO3. J Phys Chem C 111:1665–1674

    Google Scholar 

  44. Chang H, Wu H (2013) Graphene-based nanocomposites: preparation, functionalization, and energy and environmental application. Energy Environ Sci 6:3483–3507

    Google Scholar 

  45. Daer S, Kharraz D, Giwa A, Hasan SA (2015) Recent applications of nanomaterials in water desalination: a critical review and future opportunities. Desalination 367:37–48

    Google Scholar 

  46. Mohammad A, Kapoor K, Shaikh MM (2016) Improved photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes by ZnO-nanoflowers. ChemistrySelect 1:3483–3490

    Google Scholar 

  47. Chen C, Zhang M, Guan Q, Li W (2012) Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the adsorption of xylenol orange onto MIL-101 (Cr). Chem Eng J 183:60–67

    Google Scholar 

  48. Haque E, Khan NA, Talapaneni SN, Vinu A, Jegal J, Jhung SH (2010) Adsorption of phenol on mesoporous carbon CMK-3: effect of textural properties. Bull Kor Chem Soc 31:1638–1642

    Google Scholar 

  49. Haque E, Lee JE, Jang IN, Hwang YK, Chang JS, Jegal J, Jhung SH (2010) Adsorptive removal of methyl orange from aqueous solution with metal-organic frameworks, porous chromium-benzene dicarboxylates. J Hazard Mater 181:535–542

    Google Scholar 

  50. Rajak R, Saraf M, Mohammad A, Shaikh MM (2017) Design and construction of a ferrocene based inclined polycatenated Co-MOF for supercapacitor and dye adsorption applications. J Mater Chem A 5:17998–18011

    Google Scholar 

  51. Kreno LE, Leong K, Farha OK, Allendorf M, Duyne RPV, Hupp JT (2012) Metal-organic framework materials as chemical sensors. Chem Rev 112:1105–1125

    Google Scholar 

  52. Schedin F, Geim A, Morozov S, Hill E, Blake P, Katsnelson M, Novoselov K (2007) Detection of individual gas molecules adsorbed on graphene. Nat Mater 6:652–655

    Google Scholar 

  53. Gascon J, Corma A, Kapteijn F, Francesc X, Xamena L (2014) Metal organic framework catalysis: Quo vadis? ACS Catal 4:361–378

    Google Scholar 

  54. Xia W, Mahmood A, Zou R, Xu Q (2015) Metal-organic frameworks and their derived nanostructures for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. Energy Environ Sci 8:1837–1866

    Google Scholar 

  55. (a) Yagub MT, Sen TK, Afroze S, Ang HM (2014) Dye and its removal from aqueous solution by adsorption: a review. Adv Colloid Interf Sci 209:172–184; (b) Nandi B, Goswami A, Purkait M (2009) Removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions by kaolin: kinetic and equilibrium studies. Appl Clay Sci 42:583–590

    Google Scholar 

  56. Bulut Y, Aydın H (2006) A kinetics and thermodynamics study of methylene blue adsorption on wheat shells. Desalination 194:259–267

    Google Scholar 

  57. Argun ME (2008) Activation of pine cone using Fenton oxidation for Cd (II) and Pb (II) removal. Bioresour Technol 99:8691–8698

    Google Scholar 

  58. Salleh MAM (2011) Cationic and anionic dye adsorption by agricultural solid wastes: a comprehensive review. Desalination 280:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  59. Sharma V, Mohammad A, Mishra V, Chaudhary A, Kapoor K, Shaikh MM (2016) Fabrication of innovative ZnO nanoflowers showing drastic biological activity. New J Chem 40:2145–2155

    Google Scholar 

  60. Liang P, Shi TQ, Li J (2004) Nanometer-size titanium dioxide separation/preconcentration and FAAS determination of trace Zn and Cd in water sample. Int J Environ Anal Chem 84:315–321

    Google Scholar 

  61. Wang X, Cai W, Lin Y, Wang G, Liang C (2010) Mass production of micro/nanostructured porous ZnO plates and their strong structurally enhanced and selective adsorption performance for environmental remediation. J Mater Chem 20:8582–8590

    Google Scholar 

  62. Gao C, Zhang W, Li H, Lang L, Xu Z (2008) Controllable fabrication of mesoporous MgO with various morphologies and their absorption performance for toxic pollutants in water. Cryst Growth Des 8:3785–3790

    Google Scholar 

  63. Li YH, Wang S, Luan Z, Ding J, Xu C, Wu D (2003) Adsorption of cadmium (II) from aqueous solution by surface oxidized carbon nanotubes. Carbon 41:1057–1062

    Google Scholar 

  64. Wu L, Liu Y, Zhang L, Zhao L (2014) A green-chemical synthetic route to fabricate a lamellar-structured Co/Co(OH)2 nanocomposite exhibiting a high removal ability for organic dye. Dalton Trans 43:5393–5400

    Google Scholar 

  65. Shahabuddin S, Sarih NM, Mohamad S, Baharin NA (2016) Synthesis and characterization of Co3O4 nanocube-doped polyaniline nanocomposites with enhanced methyl orange adsorption from aqueous solution. RSC Adv 6:43388–43400

    Google Scholar 

  66. Singh SA, Vemparala B, Madras G (2015) Adsorption kinetics of dyes and their mixtures with Co3O4–ZrO2 composites. J Environ Chem Eng 3:2684–2696

    Google Scholar 

  67. Iqbal MJ, Ashiq MN (2007) Adsorption of dyes from aqueous solutions on activated charcoal. J Hazard Mater 139:57–66

    Google Scholar 

  68. Acharya J, Sahu JN, Sahoo BK, Mohanty CR, Meikap BC (2009) Removal of chromium (VI) from wastewater by activated carbon developed from Tamarind wood activated with zinc chloride. Chem Eng J 150:25–39

    Google Scholar 

  69. Tsai WT, Chang CY, Lin MC, Chien SF, Sun HF, Hsieh MF (2001) Adsorption of acid dye onto activated carbons prepared from agricultural waste bagasse by ZnCl2 activation. Chemosphere 45:51–58

    Google Scholar 

  70. Senthilkumaar S, Kalaamani P, Subburaam CV (2006) Liquid phase adsorption of crystal violet onto activated carbons derived from male flowers of coconut tree. J Hazard Mater 136:800–808

    Google Scholar 

  71. Pattanayak J, Mondal K, Mathew S, Lalvani SB (2000) A parametric evaluation of the removal of As(V) and As(III) by carbon-based adsorbents. Carbon 38:589–596

    Google Scholar 

  72. Reza RA, Ahmaruzzaman M (2014) A novel synthesis of Fe2O3@activated carbon composite and its exploitation for the elimination of carcinogenic textile dye from an aqueous phase. RSC Adv 5:10575–10586

    Google Scholar 

  73. Warner JH, Schaffel F, Bachmatiuk A, Rummeli MH (2013) Graphene: fundamentals and emergent applications. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 1–450

    Google Scholar 

  74. Wang X, Shi G (2015) Flexible graphene devices related to energy conversion and storage. Energy Environ Sci 8:790–823

    Google Scholar 

  75. Ferrari CA, Bonaccorso F, Fal’ko V, Novoselov KS, Roche S, Boggild P, Borini S (2015) Science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems. Nanoscale 7:4598–4810

    Google Scholar 

  76. Georgakilas V, Otyepka M, Bourlinos AB, Chandra V, Kim N, Kemp KC, Hobza P, Zboril R, Kim KS (2012) Functionalization of graphene: covalent and non-covalent approaches, derivatives and applications. Chem Rev 112:6156–6214

    Google Scholar 

  77. Zhu Y, Murali S, Cai W, Li X, Suk JW, Potts JR, Ruoff RS (2010) Graphene and graphene oxide: synthesis, properties, and applications. Adv Mater 22:3906–3924

    Google Scholar 

  78. Stoller MD, Park S, Zhu Y, An J, Ruoff RS (2008) Graphene-based ultracapacitors. Nano Lett 8:3498–3502

    Google Scholar 

  79. Dreyer DR, Park S, Bielawski CW, Ruoff RS (2010) The chemistry of graphene oxide. Chem Soc Rev 39:228–240

    Google Scholar 

  80. Ramesha GK, Kumara AV, Muralidhara HB, Sampath S (2011) Graphene and graphene oxide as effective adsorbents toward anionic and cationic dyes. J Colloid Interface Sci 361:270–277

    Google Scholar 

  81. Song H, Hao L, Tian Y, Wan X, Zhang L, Lv Y (2012) Stable and water-dispersible graphene nanosheets: sustainable preparation, functionalization, and high-performance adsorbents for Pb2+. ChemPlusChem 77:379–386

    Google Scholar 

  82. Chandra V, Park J, Chun Y, Lee JW, Hwang IC, Kim KS (2010) Water-dispersible magnetite-reduced graphene oxide composites for arsenic removal. ACS Nano 4:3979–3986

    Google Scholar 

  83. Sui Z, Meng Q, Zhang X, Ma R, Cao B (2012) Green synthesis of carbon nanotube–graphene hybrid aerogels and their use as versatile agents for water purification. J Mater Chem 22:8767–8771

    Google Scholar 

  84. Crini G (2006) Nonconventional low-cost adsorbents for dye removal: a review. Bioresour Technol 97:1061–1085

    Google Scholar 

  85. Chen S, Zhang J, Zhang C, Yue Q, Li Y, Li C (2010) Equilibrium and kinetic studies of methyl orange and methyl violet adsorption on activated carbon derived from Phragmites australis. Desalination 252:149–156

    Google Scholar 

  86. Haque E, Khan NA, Park JH, Jhung SH (2010) Synthesis of a metal-organic framework material, iron terephthalate, by ultrasound, microwave, and conventional electric heating: a kinetic study. Chem Eur J 16:1046–1052

    Google Scholar 

  87. Haque E, Jong WJ, Sung HJ (2011) Adsorptive removal of methyl orange and methylene blue from aqueous solution with a metal organic framework material, iron terephthalate (MOF-235). J Hazard Mater 185:507–511

    Google Scholar 

  88. Nakata K, Fujishima A (2012) TiO2 photocatalysis: design and applications. J Photochem Photobiol C 13:169–189

    Google Scholar 

  89. Ba-Abbad MM, Kadhum AAH, Mohamad AB, Takriff MS, Sopian K (2013) Visible light photocatalytic activity of Fe3+ doped ZnO nanoparticle prepared via sol-gel technique. Chemosphere 91:1604–1611

    Google Scholar 

  90. Saravanan R, Karthikeyan S, Gupta VK, Sekaran G, Narayanan V, Stephen A (2013) Enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CuO nanocomposite for the degradation of textile dye on visible light illumination. Mater Sci Eng C 33:91–98

    Google Scholar 

  91. Yousef A (2015) Cu0-doped TiO2 nanofibers as potential photocatalyst and antimicrobial agent. J Ind Eng Chem 26:251–258

    Google Scholar 

  92. Reddy MP, Venugopal A, Subrahmanyam M (2007) Hydroxyapatite-supported Ag–TiO2 as Escherichia coli disinfection photocatalyst. Water Res 41:379–386

    Google Scholar 

  93. Syed I, Li L, Siddique SA, Nan CW (2017) Enhanced photocatalytic activity of La3+ and Se4+ co-doped bismuth ferrite nanostructures. J Mater Chem A 5:11143–11151

    Google Scholar 

  94. Shirolkar MM, Hao C, Dong X, Guo T, Zhang L, Li M, Wang H (2014) Tunable multiferroic and bistable/complementary resistive switching properties of dilutely Li-doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles: an effect of aliovalent substitution. Nanoscale 5:4735–4744

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

S.M.M. thanks SERB-DST (Project No. EMR/2016/001113), New Delhi and IIT Indore for financial support. A. M., K.A. and R.R. would like to thank to MHRD, UGC-New Delhi (RGNF-D) and DST-Inspire, respectively, for providing research fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaikh M. Mobin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Mohammad, A., Ahmad, K., Rajak, R., Mobin, S.M. (2019). Remediation of Water Contaminants. In: Martínez, L., Kharissova, O., Kharisov, B. (eds) Handbook of Ecomaterials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68255-6_147

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics