Instructive analysis of engineered carbon materials for potential application in water and wastewater treatment

Water remediation is an essential component for sustainable development. Increasing population and rapid industrialization have contributed to the deterioration of water resources. In particular, effluents from chemical, pharmaceutical, petroleum industries, and anthropogenic activities have led to severe ecological degradation. Many of these detrimental pollutants are highly toxic even at low concentrations, acting as carcinogens and inflicting severe long-lasting effects on human health. This review underscores the potential applications of engineered carbon-based materials for effective wastewater treatment. It focuses on the performance as well as efficiency of activated carbon, graphene nanomaterial, and carbon nanotubes, both with and without chemical functionalization. Plausible mechanisms of action between the chemically functionalized adsorbent and pollutants are also discussed. Based on the keywords from the literature published in the recent five years, a statistical practicality-vs-applicability analysis of these three materials is also provided. The review will provide a deep understanding of the physical or chemical interactions of the wastewater pollutants with carbon materials. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This review emphasizes the potential applications of engineered carbon-based materials, such as activated carbon, graphene nanomaterials, and carbon nanotubes, for effective wastewater treatment. It also discusses plausible mechanisms of action between chemically functionalized adsorbents and pollutants, providing a practicality-vs-applicability analysis of these materials based on recent literature. The review aims to deepen the understanding of the physical or chemical interactions of wastewater pollutants with carbon materials.