Application and prospects of carbon nanostructured materials in water treatment: A review

The search for novel and cost-effective material for water treatment is one of the ongoing challenges. Among the various new materials, carbon-based nanostructured materials (CNMs) are considered to be the most robust and versatile candidate for the effective treatment of water. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have enticed wide attention, and these materials can be used in a variety of applications due to its superior physio-chemical properties. The CNMs and their composites have been employed to develop unique adsorbents, novel catalytic materials and high-performance membranes with superior permeation properties for the removal of unwanted species from (waste)water. This review article presents a critical assessment of the existing literature on CNTs, GO and rGO in the field of adsorption, catalytic degradation, and membrane technology for water treatment. In addition, structural properties, challenges, and prospects of carbon nanostructured materials for decontamination of water are discussed.