Article by Sidra Hafeez
MSME, PIEAS, Islamabad, Pakistan
Molecular synthesis or Nanoscale engineering has certainly produced the strategic technology breakthroughs for tomorrow. Our aptitude to work at a Nano level, atom by atom, to create something new, something we can manufacture from the “bottom up”, opens up huge vistas for many of us. On a dimensional scale, one nanometer is a spellbound point. Nanostructures are at the confluence of the smallest of human-made devices and the largest molecules of living things.
Nanotechnology can unify with existing technologies easily and modify endorse or clarify any present scientific notion which is why it is called a “Platform technology” (Schmidt, 2007). Major vital environmental roles of nanotechnology are reported as initial environmental treatment and remediation, lighter and stronger nanomaterial, more accurate sensing and monitoring devices. Supplementary benefits lay in the cost-effective use of renewable energy, low energy requirements, and low waste production. Along with other environmental concerns, nanotechnology is also providing solutions to waste water treatment employing nanomaterial that can be metals, ceramics, polymeric materials or composite materials hence improving all primary, secondary and tertiary treatments methods by making filters more effective, adding sensors, introducing phosphorous, metals and microbes removal techniques.
Nanomaterials used in waste water treatment may be organic (PES, PPSU, PVDF, PSU) or inorganic (TiO2, ZiO2, Al2O3, Metals, Metal Alloys, Carbides).For instance, metal oxide nanomaterial such as TiO2 is among the promising Nanocatalyst that was tested successfully for its antimicrobial activity moreover (C60), a pollution tracer is being used to provide contaminant information to assist in developing water remediation strategically. Magnetic nanoparticles are being developed to adsorb metals and organic compounds and Nanocatalysts are being explored to reduce pollution of oxidized contaminants. Magnetite nanoparticle is a key material in removing and recovering Cr (VI) from wastewater
(Hu et al., 2005). For decomposition of organic matter in waste water silver chloride Nanowires are used as photocatalysis media. Gold tipped carbon nanotubes are used to trap oil drops from polluted water. To clean contaminated water by an inexpensive way activated carbon and antimicrobial Nanofibers are used in a disposal filter.
Industrial pollutants such as phthalate, alkyl phenols, bisphenol-A, pharmaceuticals and many other can be removed from industrial wastewater by using Nanomaterials. Recent advances in Nanomaterial research for waste water treatment can be summarized by these examples: From paper & Pulp industry biologically treated effluents can be removed by Nano biomembranes. In the same manner degradation of organic dyes using manganese doped ZnO nanoparticle is practicable. The treatment of waste water from molasses distilleries using Nano size pore membrane is already in use (Balakrishnam et al., 2008).
Zinc oxide, Titanium dioxide, carbon black and iron oxide comprises the majority of the Nanomaterials in industry and there is an enormous number of other nanoparticles and nanostructures at the initial stage of research that will be available to manufacturing world in near future.
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