International Journal of Chemical Studies 2016; 4(2): 22-24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
P-ISSN2349–8528 
 E-ISSN 2321–4902 Nanotechnology for waste water treatment
IJCS
  2016; 4(2): 22-24
 © 2016 JEZS
Received: 12-01-2016 Ms. Sulekha
Accepted: 13-02-2016
  Abstract
Ms. Sulekha
Sufficient and adequate supply of clean, safe and potable water on a regular basis, are among the
Asstt. Professor,
Department Of Chemistry,
foremost issues faced by the people now a days. To accomplish this objective wastewater should be
DAV College, Abohar, treated so that it can be reused and also the environment should be saved by the harmful effects of the
Punjab, India. untreated wastewater. Here we will study the use of nanotechnology that can help in wastewater
treatment. As we all know traditional wastewater treatment technologies continue to be ineffective for
providing ample safe water due to increasing demand of water along with severe health guidelines and
emerging contaminants. The development of cost-effective and steady materials and methods for
providing the drinkable water in sufficient amounts is the need of the present world. Nanotechnology-
based multifunctional and highly efficient processes are providing affordable solutions to wastewater
treatments that do not require large infrastructures or centralized systems. The aim of the present study is
to review the possible applications of the nanotechnology for the removal of pollutants from wastewater.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, Wastewater Treatment, Contaminants, Pollutants, Environment,

1. Introduction
Water has a widespread impact on all aspects of human life including but not limited to health,
food, energy, and economy. Along with environmental, economic, and social effects of poor
water supply and sanitation [1], the supply of fresh water is indispensable for the safety of
children and the poor. It is estimated that billions of people in the world not have access to
clean water and within couple of decades the current water supply and resources will decrease
to one-third. There is very narrow chance of an increase in the supply of fresh water due to
challenging demands of ever increasing populations all over the world; also, water-related
problems are anticipated to increase further due to severe climate changes and due to
population growth over the next decades [2]. A major problem in developing as well as
developed countries is drinking water that is contaminated with bacteria and various other
types of viruses, which are the main reasons of water-borne diseases. Also the severe change
in climatic conditions, Ever-increasing pollution, clean water will become even scarer,
particularly in developing countries. Additionally, in these countries, available water is unsafe
to drink.
Wastewater is the water containing superfluous substances that adversely affect its quality and
thus making it not suitable for use. Wastewater is generated from various sources like as in
residential areas, commercial areas, industrial properties, agriculture lands etc. Composition of
wastewater differs extensively and it is majorly dependent on the source from which it is
generated. Common constituents of wastewater are inorganic substances like solutes, heavy
metals, metal ions, ammonia along with gases, complex organic compounds such as excreta,
plants material, food, protein, natural organic matter, nitrate, and other pollutants present in
surface water, ground water, and/or industrial water. When left untreated these constituents
may pose threat to living beings and the environment, which makes it crucial to treat
wastewater before disposal. Various physical, chemical and biological treatment processes are
used for wastewater treatment.
The traditional materials and treatment technologies like activated carbon, oxidation, reverse
osmosis (RO) membranes and activated sludge are not efficient to care for complex and
Correspondence
intricate polluted water consisting of pharmaceuticals, surfactants, various industrial additives,
Ms. Sulekha
Asstt. Professor, and abundant chemicals professed. The traditional and decade old water treatment processes
Department Of Chemistry, are not able to address adequately the removal of toxic chemicals, organic materials and
DAV College, Abohar, microorganisms present in raw water.
Punjab, India. Currently, nanotechnology has been extensively studied by researchers as it offers potential
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International Journal of Chemical Studies
 
advantages like low cost, reuse and highly efficient in removing Nanoparticles are expected to play a crucial role in water purification
[9].
and recovering the pollutants. Various Nanomaterials like carbon
nanotubes (CNTs), nanomembranes, zeolites and dendrimers etc. are The principal way nanotechnologies might help in removing water
helping in the development of more proficient treatment processes problems is by solving the technical challenges that removing water
among the advanced water systems [3]. There are many aspects of contaminants including bacteria, viruses, toxic metals, pesticides and
nanotechnology that can be used to address the multiple problems of salts [6]. The application of nanotechnology for the removal of toxic
water quality in order to ensure the environmental pollutants such as the pharmaceutical and personal care products,
stability. Nanotechnology-based multifunctional and highly efficient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls,
processes are providing affordable solutions to wastewater treatments phthalates, furans and dioxins, agrochemicals and pesticides, volatile
that do not require large infrastructures or centralized systems. organic compounds, viruses and bacteria, dyes, inorganic pollutants,
etc. has been widely reported by several investigators in the field of
nanotechnology [11]. Numerous scientists’ claims that
2. What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is among the most revolutionary technologies in the nanotechnologies offer more affordable, effective, efficient and
world. The term nanotechnology describes a range of technologies durable ways of achieving specific nanoparticles for water treatment
performed on a nanometer scale with widespread applications as an will allow manufacturer to prepare less toxic particles using classical
enabling technology in various industries. Nanotechnology is the methods. Interestingly, results have shown that environmental
creation of materials, devices, and systems using individual atoms nanotechnology could be effectively utilized for the removal of
and molecules. Nanotechnology uses particles that are 1/80,000 the organic and inorganic contaminants from sewage, municipal,
diameter of a human hair. At such a small scale, new physical, industrial and process wastewater. On the other hand, like any new
chemical, and biological properties become evident. family of materials, the potential impact of nanomaterials on human
It is a multidisciplinary science that looks at how we can manipulate health and the environment is unclear. The environmental fate and
matter at the molecular and atomic level. To do this, we must work on toxicity of a material are critical issues in materials selection and
the nanoscale, a scale so small that we can't see it with a light design for water purification. No doubt that nanotechnology is better
microscope. In fact, one nanometer is just one-billionth of a meter in than other technique used in water treatment but today the knowledge
size. Atoms are smaller still. It's difficult to quantify an atom's size - about the environmental fate, transport and toxicity of nanomaterials
[10] is still in infancy.
they don't tend to hold a particular shape. But in general, a typical
atom is about one-tenth of a nanometer in diameter.
When modified at nanoscale, matter can exhibit certain extraordinary 4. Conclusion
and useful properties, which are not observed before. Research in Commercialization, Industrialization and ever increasing population
nanotechnology promises breakthroughs in areas such as medicine, are among the main reasons for increase in amount of wastewater.
data storage, food industry, molecular biotechnology, computing, These are also the areas that require regular supply of clean water and
defence, robotics, textiles, environment and sanitation4. Another ever increasing demand. Several methods are being used to ensure a
exciting and promising application of nanotechnology in water continued supply of water for the indispensable purposes. In the area
purification seems to be in desalination of water [5]. of water purification, nanotechnology provides for the possibility of a
Despite its lucrative applications in various fields, certain proficient removal of pollutants, viruses and microorganisms etc.
environmental and ethical concerns cloud the celebration of Nanotechnology is also being considered as a method to provide an
nanotechnology as the next technological boom. economical, convenient and ecofriendly way of wastewater treatment.
Diverse types of nanoparticles have proven effective in detection,
3. Nanotechnology in Waste Water Treatment removal and annihilation of various contaminants. Various
Nanotechnology is revolutionizing many fields of applications, and Nanotechnology applications for sustainable water supplies are water
has great potential to change the traditional water supply and filtration, water treatment, desalination, and using such techniques as
wastewater treatment paradigm. The unique properties of many sensors, nanoparticles, and catalysts. Nanotechnology is a promising
nanomaterials can enable novel technologies for contaminant and fresh technology, for the treatment of wastewaters which is vital
removal, microbial control, sensing and monitoring, and resource for the existence of human beings. The limitation to the use of
recovery. The super high surface area, high reactivity, and catalytic nanotechnology in wastewater treatment is that the Nanoparticles
properties of nanomaterials are expected to greatly enhance the might be difficult to separate from the treated solution, which may
kinetics and efficiency of various chemical and physicochemical results to loss of the Nanoparticles. Nevertheless, this problem could
processes used in water and wastewater treatment, and therefore be reduced by immobilization of the Nanoparticles on appropriate
reduces system size as well as chemical and energy substrate. The toxicity and environmental impact of Nanoparticles are
consumption. These unique features have the potential to enable the also currently been investigated to understand their impact on human
paradigm shift towards distributed wastewater treatment and water health and the environment.
supply, a much needed change in large metropolitan areas facing
challenges of rapid population growth and aging infrastructure. 5. References
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membranes, resulting in the death of the bacteria in most cases [7]. Kumar, Shruti Tyagi. Nanomaterials Use in Waste Water
Research is underway to use advance nanotechnology in water Treatment, International Conference on Nanotechnology and
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