Title: Nanotechnology in water treatment: an emerging trend

Authors: Hiren D. Raval, Jaydev M. Gohil

Addresses: Water Technology Business Unit, Larsen & Toubro Limited, Chhani, Baroda 390024, India. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India

Abstract: With advances in nanotechnology, different types of nanomaterial are emerging for applications in water purification and water treatment devices owing to their effectiveness against both chemical and biological contaminants. This paper discusses the application of nanoscale materials that are being evaluated or developed as functional materials for water treatment, e.g. nanomembranes (nanocomposite RO and NF and carbon nanotubes), metal nanoparticles, nanoadsorbents, magnetic nanoparticles, bioactive nanoparticles, carbonaceous nanomaterials, zeolites, dendrimers and nanofibres. Nanomaterials are intrinsically better in terms of performance than other substances used in water treatment because of their high surface area (surface/volume ratio). Owing to these characteristics, these may be used in future at large scale for water purification.

Keywords: nanotechnology; water treatment; nanocomposites; catalytic degradation; magnetic nanoparticles; water purification; nanomembranes; reverse osmosis; nanofiltration; carbon nanotubes; metal nanoparticles; nanoadsorbents; bioactive nanoparticles; carbonaceous nanomaterials; zeolites; dendrimers; nanofibres.

DOI: 10.1504/IJND.2010.035176

International Journal of Nuclear Desalination, 2010 Vol.4 No.2, pp.184 - 188

Published online: 10 Sep 2010 *

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