Clays for Efficient Disinfection of Bacteria in Water

Clay minerals are not only abundant in nature but can be easily engineered to make highly efficient materials for disinfection of water. A combination of their abundance and efficiency makes them a sustainable source of material for water disinfection. Several works have reported the use of clay minerals in modified form to make the removal of harmful pathogens from water sustainable and more efficient. This article reviews the various modified clay minerals that have been developed for the removal of these harmful pathogens from water. It also considers several operating factors that moderates the efficiencies of these materials during the pathogen removal process, techniques for measuring interaction between bacteria and clay-based adsorbents and future perspectives on their use in the treatment of potable water. It is believed that this will spur some interest in the quick development of very efficient and sustainable clay-based materials that will be useful for disinfection of water and wastewater in the near future.