Application of Nanotechnology in Water Research

At the nano size materials often take on unique and sometimes unexpected properties which results in materials being ‘tuned’ to build faster, lighter, stronger and more efficient devices and systems, as well as new classes of materials. In the water research, nanotechnology is applied to develop more cost-effective and high-performance water treatment systems as well as instant and continuous ways to monitor water quality as well.

Nanotechnology in water applications potentially impacts on treatment, remediation, sensing, and pollution prevention. Nanotechnology for water treatment and remediation has the potential to maintain the long-term water quality, availability and viability of water resource. Thus, water via nanotechnology can be reused, recycled, desalinized and also it can detect the biological and chemical contamination at even very low concentration no matter if it is coming from municipal, industrial or man-made waste. 

Water Research Nanotechnology Applications describes a broad area of nanotechnology and water research where membrane processes (nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and nanoreactive membranes) are considered key components of advanced water purification and desalination technologies to remove, reduce or neutralize water contaminants that threaten human health and/or ecosystem productivity and integrity. Various nanoparticles and nanomaterials that could be used in water remediation (zeolites, carbon nanotubes, self-assembled monolayer on mesoporous supports, biopolymers, single-enzyme nanoparticles, zero-valent iron nanoparticles, bimetallic iron nanoparticles, and nanoscale semiconductor photocatalysts) are also discussed. Water-borne infectious diseases as well as water-borne pathogens, microbes and toxicity approach receive attention.

Keywords: Nanomaterials