fenvs-12-1393694

TYPE Review
PUBLISHED 06 May 2024

DOI 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1393694
Nano-revolution in heavy metal

OPEN ACCESS removal: engineered
EDITED BY
Ahmed El Nemr,
National Institute of Oceanography and
nanomaterials for cleaner water
Fisheries (NIOF), Egypt
REVIEWED BY Arun Karnwal 1* and Tabarak Malik 2*

Manoj Chandra Garg, 1
Amity University, India School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India, 2Department
Heidi Lynn Richards, of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
*CORRESPONDENCE
Arun Karnwal,
[email protected] Engineered nanomaterials have emerged as a promising technology for water
Tabarak Malik,
[email protected]
treatment, particularly for removing heavy metals. Their unique physicochemical
properties enable them to adsorb large quantities of metals even at low
RECEIVED 29 February 2024
ACCEPTED 15 April 2024
concentrations. This review explores the efficacy of various nanomaterials,
PUBLISHED 06 May 2024 including zeolites, polymers, chitosan, metal oxides, and metals, in removing
CITATION
heavy metals from water under different conditions. Functionalization of
Karnwal A and Malik T (2024), Nano-revolution nanomaterials is a strategy to enhance their separation, stability, and
in heavy metal removal: engineered adsorption capacity. Experimental parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage,
nanomaterials for cleaner water.
Front. Environ. Sci. 12:1393694. temperature, contact time, and ionic strength significantly influence the
doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1393694 adsorption process. In comparison, engineered nanomaterials show promise
COPYRIGHT
for heavy metal remediation, but several challenges exist, including aggregation,
© 2024 Karnwal and Malik. This is an open- stability, mechanical strength, long-term performance, and scalability.
access article distributed under the terms of the Furthermore, the potential environmental and health impacts of nanomaterials
Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).
The use, distribution or reproduction in other require careful consideration. Future research should focus on addressing these
forums is permitted, provided the original challenges and developing sustainable nanomaterial-based remediation
author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are strategies. This will involve interdisciplinary collaboration, adherence to green
credited and that the original publication in this
journal is cited, in accordance with accepted chemistry principles, and comprehensive risk assessments to ensure the safe and
academic practice. No use, distribution or effective deployment of nanomaterials in heavy metal remediation at both lab and
reproduction is permitted which does not large-scale levels.
comply with these terms.
KEYWORDS
adsorption, engineered nanomaterials, functionalization, heavy metal removal,

sustainability, water treatment
1 Introduction
A clean water source is essential for the long-term survival of life. However, water
pollution has become a global issue, threatening the entire ecosystem and life on Earth
(Chandran et al., 2023; Rangappa et al., 2024; Rybarczyk et al., 2024). A variety of industrial
improvements (Figure 1), including energy plants, mining industries, and environmental
disasters caused by climate change, have had a significant impact on the spread of harmful
toxins in aquatic ecosystems. Pollution and increased demand due to population
development have resulted in a widespread scarcity of safe drinking water in many
locations around the world (Sukmana et al., 2021). Heavy metal ions in wastewater are
a form of pollution that has caused serious health problems (Sharma et al., 2023; Moukadiri
et al., 2024). These ions are of special significance because of their persistence in the
environment, long-term accumulation, and potential threat to human health via the food
chain. Heavy metals are defined as elements with atomic weights ranging
from −63 to −201 and densities above 5 gm/cm³ (Arun Karnwal, 2012; H Karami,
2013). They include toxic elements such as chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As),
Frontiers in Environmental Science 01 frontiersin.org

Karnwal and Malik 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1393694
FIGURE 1
Sources of heavy metal pollution.
cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and mercury (Hg) (Lu and tests employing a central composite design (CCD) approach, optimal
Astruc, 2018). Untreated or badly treated effluents from many conditions for dye removal are determined. Langmuir and Freundlich
enterprises release harmful heavy metals into the environment, adsorption isotherms elucidate the equilibrium reached after 90 min.
hence exacerbating water pollution. The inappropriate treatment Response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with CCD optimizes
of landfill sites has compounded the situation, as the leachates from experiments, while kinetic modeling assesses pseudo-first- and pseudo-
these sites contain considerable amounts of heavy metals that can second-order kinetics. Thermodynamic analysis indicates endothermic,
infiltrate groundwater (NC). Arun Karnwal (2012); Arun et al. natural adsorption. FTIR characterization confirms Methylene Blue
(2018); Sall et al., 2020; Zamora-Ledezma et al. (2021). Scientists adsorption, suggesting SCB, PHB, and OCB as viable substitutes for
and engineers have become more conscious of the gravity of this commercial biosorbents in wastewater treatment.
pollution, but developing effective and economically viable solutions Certain limitations hinder the usage of typical adsorbents such as
remains a difficult task. activated carbon and metal oxides. As a result, novel nano adsorbents
In recent years, several technologies have been utilized to clean have been created that use nanoparticles to overcome these limitations
wastewater and purify water. These technologies encompass both (Umeh et al., 2023). Nanomaterials have emerged as possible
proven procedures and novel ways for combating water pollution adsorbents for heavy metal removal due to their unique properties,
(Qiu et al., 2022; Goyal et al., 2023). Although these technologies such as a large specific surface area and the ability to be modified (Yu
have the potential to eradicate a wide range of pollutants, they typically et al., 2021). Because of their specific surface charge, porosity, and high
face restrictions such as high costs, complex procedures, and capacity to bind ions, nanomaterials have a wide range of forms and
unsatisfactory performance (Abd Elnabi et al., 2023; Fei and Hu, architectures, which improves their effectiveness in removing heavy
2023; Solanki et al., 2024). Even when utilizing well-established metals. Nonetheless, several challenges exist in the practical application
approaches, the broad dispersion of heavy metal contaminants in of these technologies, particularly in the separation of treated water. To
water makes their clearance difficult, owing to problems connected solve this difficulty, nanomaterials are chemically modified to increase
to their ionic forms and ion selectivity. The adsorption approach has their ability to segregate and adsorb diverse compounds (Abdelbasir
gained popularity because it is a safe, environmentally acceptable, and and Shalan, 2019; Abu Shmeis, 2022). Nanomaterials’ recyclability
highly effective way to treat heavy metal ion-polluted industrial makes them an intriguing and cost-effective option for adsorption-
wastewater (K Liu et al., 2023). Adsorbent materials with large based heavy metal removal from water and wastewater. This review
surface areas, considerable porosity, and the ability to be reused investigates the use of nanomaterials to adsorb and remove heavy
have proved efficacy, making the adsorption process economically metals from water and wastewater. As part of the analysis, a variety of
viable (Bahadi et al., 2024). Jain et al. (2022) investigated the use of variables influencing this process are examined. These parameters
economical organic biosorbents (SCB, PHB, and OPB) for eliminating include pH, temperature, contact time, initial heavy metal
Methylene Blue dye from textile wastewater. Through batch adsorption concentration, and adsorbent quantity.

TABLE 1 Comparative analysis of mechanisms for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions: Advantages, disadvantages, and applications (Azimi et al.,
2017; Almomani et al., 2020; Bhandari et al., 2021; Alzahrani et al., 2022; Aragaw and Ayalew, 2022; Beiranvand et al., 2022; Abdullah et al., 2023).
Mechanism Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples of

materials/Methods
Adsorption Physical or chemical binding of metal ions • High efficiency and selectivity • Potential for saturation and • Activated carbon
to a solid surface regeneration challenges
• Zeolites
• Wide range of applicable materials • May not be specific to target • Biochar

metals
• Easy implementation • Metal oxides
Ion Exchange Exchange of ions between an aqueous • High selectivity for specific metals • Limited capacity for metal • Zeolites
solution and a solid material with similar uptake
charged ions (Figure 2B)
• Reversible process for regeneration • Requires specific ion • Clay minerals
exchange resins
• Ion exchange resins
Precipitation Conversion of soluble metal ions into • Effective for removing large • Requires specific pH and • Co-precipitation with
insoluble salts through chemical reactions quantities of metals chemical conditions other metals/hydroxides
• Relatively simple process • May generate secondary • Sulfide precipitation

waste
Membrane Selective separation of metal ions from • High purity of treated water • High energy consumption • Reverse osmosis
Separation water through membranes based on size,
charge, or other properties
• Can be combined with other • Membrane fouling issues • Nanofiltration
processes
• Electrodialysis
Biosorption Uptake of metal ions by living organisms or • Environmentally friendly • Slow process • Bacteria (e.g., E. coli)
their biomass (Figure 2D)
• Potential for in-situ remediation • Limited capacity for metal • Algae (e.g., Chlorella)
uptake
• Specificity to certain metals • Fungi (e.g., Aspergillus)
Bioaccumulation Intracellular accumulation of metal ions by • High selectivity for specific metals • Slow process • Bacteria (e.g.,
living organisms Pseudomonas)
• In-situ remediation possible • May impact organism • Yeast (e.g.,

viability Saccharomyces)
Biomineralization Transformation of toxic metal ions into less • Reduces mobility and toxicity of • Specificity to certain metals • Bacteria (e.g., Shewanella)
bioavailable forms by microorganism metals
(Figure 2E)
• In-situ remediation possible • Requires specific • Enzymes (e.g., urease)
environmental conditions
Electrochemical Removal of metal ions through reduction or • High efficiency and selectivity • High energy consumption • Electrodeposition
Methods oxidation at an electrode surface
• Can be automated • Requires specialized • Electrocoagulation
equipment
2 Methods for removing heavy metals precipitation, ion exchange, and membrane filtration, provide
from water distinct advantages, including high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and
adaptability (Lu and Astruc, 2018). However, each technique has
The risk of heavy metal contamination looms over our world, limitations, including limited capacity, pH dependence, and
endangering ecosystems and human health. These persistent regeneration issues (Azimi et al., 2017; Bui et al., 2021).
contaminants enter water sources through industrial, mining, and Understanding the merits and disadvantages of each approach is
agricultural processes, where they accumulate in living creatures and critical for determining the best technique for a given environmental
pose serious health concerns (Abd El-Aziz et al., 2023; Ahmadian et al., remediation scenario. This detailed investigation helps to advance long-
2023; Ali et al. Fortunately, scientists are equipped with a variety of term solutions for reducing heavy metal pollution in water systems.
remediation options, and knowing the mechanisms underlying heavy
metal removal from aqueous solutions is critical for their successful
implementation (Abd Elnabi et al., 2023). Table 1 provides a 2.1 Adsorption: a sticky situation for metals
comparative review of heavy metal removal processes from aqueous
solutions, revealing a range of advantages, disadvantages, and One of the most widely employed techniques for heavy metal
applications. Various processes, including as adsorption, removal is adsorption (Figure 2A). In this process, metal ions

FIGURE 2
Various mechanisms used for remediation of heavy metals from water (A) Adsorption; (B) Ion Exchange; (C) Precipitation; (D) Biosorption; (E)
Biomineralization.
cling to the surfaces of adsorbent materials, effectively trapping • Adsorbents: These materials, with their high surface areas and
them and preventing their spread (Abobakr and Abdo, 2022; abundant functional groups, act as magnets for metal ions.
Adisasmito et al., 2023). The key players in this adsorption Activated carbon, clays, zeolites, and various nanomaterials
drama are: are popular choices.

FIGURE 3
Performance evaluation of four membranes in rejecting various heavy metal particles and ions.
• Metal ions: These positively charged metallic culprits are attracted settling out of the water as solid particles (Figure 2C) (Yu
to the negatively charged sites on the adsorbent surface. et al., 2021). This method is particularly effective for metals like
lead, copper, and cadmium (Godwin et al., 2023; L Liu
Several mechanisms govern the adsorption dance: et al., 2022).
The mechanisms at play here involve:
• Physical adsorption (physisorption): This weak, van der Waals
force-driven interaction creates a temporary bond between the • Hydrolysis: Metal ions react with water molecules, forming
metal ion and the adsorbent surface. insoluble hydroxide precipitates.
• Chemical adsorption (chemisorption): This stronger, covalent, or • Precipitation with anions: Adding anions like phosphates or
ionic bond formation leads to more permanent metal ion sulfates forms insoluble salts with the metal ions, promoting
attachment. their removal.
• Ion exchange: Metal ions replace other cations bound to the
adsorbent surface, achieving selectivity for specific The choice of precipitating agent and optimal pH conditions are
metals (Figure 2B). critical for efficient precipitation.
Factors like pH, temperature, and initial metal concentration

influence the adsorption process. Optimizing these parameters is 2.3 Membrane filtration: straining out the
crucial for maximizing metal removal efficiency. contaminants
Imagine tiny sieves selectively filtering out metal ions while

2.2 Precipitation: turning metals into allowing clean water to pass through. That is the essence of
solid sediments membrane filtration (Cevallos-Mendoza et al., 2022; Chadha
et al., 2022). Membranes with varying pore sizes can be
Another popular approach involves precipitation. By employed to physically separate metal ions based on their
altering the solution’s pH or adding specific chemicals, size (Figure 3).
metal ions are transformed into insoluble precipitates, Here is how it works:

• Reverse osmosis: A pressure difference forces water molecules environmental remediation, Table 2 offers a snapshot of the latest
through a semipermeable membrane, leaving behind nanobiotechnology strategies being used to tackle heavy metal
larger metal ions. contamination. It details innovative methods and techniques
• Nanofiltration: Membranes with smaller pores allow selective specifically designed to combat this form of environmental pollution.
passage of water molecules while rejecting larger metal ions
and some organic contaminants.
3.1 Functionalized carbon (C) nanomaterials
Membrane selection, pressure control, and pretreatment of the for removing toxic metals from wastewater
solution are crucial aspects of successful metal removal using
this technique. Functionalized carbon nanoparticles are currently employed as
effective adsorbents for removing hazardous metals from wastewater
due to their distinctive chemical and physical characteristics, showing
2.4 Bioaccumulation: nature’s significant potential for application in water purification initiatives
detoxification squad (Surti et al., 2023). These materials have gained considerable
attention across scientific and technical disciplines for their
Nature itself holds the key to some promising remediation exceptional thermal, mechanical, optical, chemical, and physical
strategies. Certain microorganisms and plants have the properties. Various carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon
remarkable ability to bioaccumulate heavy metals, taking them nanotubes, nanocomposites, and graphene, have been utilized for
up and accumulating them in their tissues (Z Xu et al., 2023). eliminating contaminants from water sources (Abbasi and Khan,
This natural detoxification process offers a sustainable and 2021). Graphene, a two-dimensional substance composed of a single
environmentally friendly approach. layer of carbon atoms, is extremely thin (Abdel Wahab et al., 2023).
The mechanisms involved are complex and diverse, including: Carbon nanotubes, on the other hand, are cylindrical nanostructures
made of sp2-bonded carbon atoms. The hydrophilic nature of
• Biosorption: Microorganisms bind metal ions to their cell graphene, attributed to the oxygen functional groups present on the
walls or extracellular polymers (Figure 2D). surface of graphene oxide (GO), enables exceptional solubility in water
• Bioaccumulation: Specific proteins within plants or (Abdel Wahab et al., 2023). The use of GO in water purification is
microorganisms actively transport and sequester metal ions. highly recommended due to its large surface area and various functional
• Biotransformation: Some microorganisms can convert toxic groups. Nanoparticles based on graphene have been proven to be
metal forms into less harmful ones. exceptionally effective in eliminating various pollutants from water
(Ahlawat et al., 2021; H Ahmad and Liu, 2021). Complexes formed
While further research is needed to optimize and scale up between oxygen functional groups on graphene and cationic metals play
bioaccumulation techniques, their potential for eco-friendly metal a crucial role in the adsorption mechanism utilized by graphene for
removal is significant. removing hazardous metals. Similarly, in the case of organic dyes (Cano
No single technique holds the silver bullet for heavy metal removal. et al., 2023), contact occurs through the expanded configuration of π-
Often, combining multiple approaches proves most effective (Abbas, electrons within graphene. The incorporation of MnO2 nanotubes into
2021). For instance, adsorption followed by membrane filtration can reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hydrogel by Zeng et al. resulted in the
achieve high removal efficiencies. Integrating bioaccumulation with creation of a three-dimensional nanomaterial with a size of 20 nm. This
other methods can enhance sustainability and reduce environmental material effectively removed various heavy metals from the
impact. By understanding the diverse mechanisms behind heavy metal environment, including zinc (83.9 mg/g), copper (121.5 mg/g), silver
removal, scientists can tailor strategies to specific contaminants and (138.2 mg/g), cadmium (177.4 mg/g), and lead (Zeng et al., 2019).
environmental conditions. Ongoing research continues to explore novel These impressive adsorption capacities are attributed to the synergistic
materials, optimize existing processes, and develop cost-effective interaction between manganese dioxide nanotubes (MnO2) and
solutions. The ultimate goal? A cleaner, healthier planet free from reduced graphene oxide (rGO) within the material’s 3D porous
the threat of heavy metal pollution. structure. Notably, GO nanosheets also exhibited good adsorption
potential for cobalt, demonstrating a removal quantity of 68.2 mg/g.
Similarly, Cd (II) ions were removed using graphene oxide nanosheets,
3 Nanomaterials for heavy metals which showed a removal capacity of 106.3 mg/g (Zhou et al., 2023).
removal from aqueous reservoir Environmental engineers find carbon nanotubes (CNTs) highly
appealing due to their unique attributes, such as extensive surface
Wastewater treatment is undergoing a significant revolution with area, small dimensions, cylindrical hollow structure, and electrical
the application of nanomaterials. Researchers are exploring a diverse conductivity (Suresh and Rajendran, 2022). CNTs primarily exist in
range of these materials, including zeolite, various forms of carbon, two forms: multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and single-
polymers, chitosan, ferrites, magnetic particles, metal oxides, bimetallic walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Several investigations have
structures, and even pure metals (Aloulou et al., 2022; Amariei et al., delved into the utilization of CNTs for treating wastewater to
2022; Gao et al., 2022). These nanoparticles boast a remarkable property eliminate toxic heavy metals via adsorption. Researchers have
called adsorption. This essentially means they can act like tiny magnets, effectively employed CNTs to remove ions of manganese (II),
attracting and holding onto heavy metals from wastewater, effectively zinc (II), cobalt (II), lead (II), and copper (II) (Sun et al., 2015;
removing them. As a valuable resource for those working in Trojanowicz, 2006; J Zhang et al., 2021). An additional investigation

TABLE 2 Summary of nanobiotechnology approaches for mitigating heavy metal pollution (Biswas et al., 2021; Gong et al., 2021; Kolluru et al., 2021; Baby
et al., 2022; Dhara, 2024).
Approach Nanomaterial used Mechanism of Advantages Disadvantages Examples

action
Nanosorption - Metal oxides (e.g., nZVI, TiO2) - Adsorption of heavy metals - High efficiency and - Potential for - Removal of Pb, Cd, As,
Activated carbon nanoparticles - onto the high surface area of selectivity nanoparticle release into and Hg from water and
Biochars nanoparticles the environment soil
- Cost-effective - Regeneration of spent

nanoparticles
-Easy implementation
Bioaccumulation - Bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli, Accumulation of heavy - Environmentally - Slow process - Bioaccumulation of Cu,
Bacillus subtilis) - Fungi (e.g., metals within the biomass of friendly Zn, Ni, Co by bacteria
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, living organisms
Aspergillus niger) - Algae (e.g., - In situ remediation - Limited capacity for
Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus possible metal uptake
quadricauda)
- Specificity to certain
metals
Nano- - Nanoparticles used to enhance - Facilitation of - Cost-effective -Potential for - Phytoremediation of

phytoremediation plant uptake of metals (e.g., nZVI phytoextraction (removal of phytotoxicity of Pb, Cd, Ni using
for Cr) - Engineered plants with metals) and nanoparticles nanoparticles combined
increased metal tolerance phytostabilization with plants
(immobilization of metals) -Sustainable approach -Limited understanding of
long-term effects
-Large-scale application
potential
Biomineralization - Microorganisms (e.g., Transformation of toxic - Reduces mobility and - Specificity to certain - Biomineralization of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, heavy metals into less toxicity of metals - In metals As, Pb, Cd by bacteria
Shewanella oneidensis) - Enzymes bioavailable forms (e.g., situ remediation
(e.g., urease, phosphatase) carbonates, phosphates) possible - Requires specific
environmental conditions
Biocatalysis - Enzymes immobilized on Degradation of organic - Can target specific - Complex and expensive - Degradation of PAHs,
nanoparticles - Engineered pollutants that mobilize contaminants enzyme development BTEX, MTBE to reduce
enzymes with increased specificity heavy metals mobilization of Pb, Cd
and activity - High efficiency and - Potential for enzyme
selectivity inactivation
revealed that the effective removal of lead ions from water yielded a porous skeletal framework with pores and channels spanning from
remarkable adsorption capacity of 70.2 mg/g (Marwani et al., 2022). nano to micrometer dimensions. Zeolites consist of tetrahedral SiO4
The application of MnO2 as a coating on oxidized multi-walled and AlO4 units (Marotta et al., 2021), these units form a framework of
CNTs resulted in an adsorption capacity of 41.7 mg/g for the pores and channels capable of accommodating cations, water, and small
removal of cadmium ions from water (Y Liu et al., 2021). Recent molecules, resembling a sponge with numerous small or extremely small
advancements have led to the development of nanocomposites pores but lacking flexibility. Within the crystal structure, Si and Al atoms
comprising carbon-layered silicates, offering enhanced properties occupy central positions, while O atoms are located at the corners, shared
compared to traditional carbon nanomaterials. One such composite, between SiO4 and AlO4 units, creating regular gaps and channels. The
known as nano adsorbent montmorillonite/carbon (H Zhang et al., negatively charged Al3 ions attract positively charged cations such as
2023), exhibited a remarkable adsorption capacity of 247.86 mg/g Na+, Mg2+, K+, and Ca2+, allowing them to occupy vacant positions and
for lead ions, making it a promising and eco-friendly solution for neutralize the framework’s negative charge (Mahdavi Far et al., 2022; Mo
water treatment. Table 3 presents a comparative analysis of various et al., 2022). Zeolites demonstrate robust three-dimensional framework
nanomaterials used for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous structures with limited interactions between ions and molecules confined
reservoirs, highlighting their effectiveness, mechanisms of action, within pores and voids, facilitating the removal of ions without damaging
and specific heavy metals targeted. This comparison aids in the zeolite structure. Zeolites are categorized into three groups based on
understanding the suitability and performance of different their Si/Al molar ratio:
nanomaterials in remediation processes.
• zeolites A and X, with low silica content and an Al/Si ratio
less than 2;
3.2 Zeolites nanoparticles • zeolites Y and L, with intermediate silica content and an Al/Si
ratio between2 and 5; and
Zeolite materials are composed of crystalline hydrated • zeolites beta and ZSM-5, with high silica content and an Al/Si
aluminosilicate structures (Jarosz et al., 2022), exhibiting a highly ratio greater than 5.

Frontiers in Environmental Science
Karnwal and Malik

TABLE 3 A comparative analysis of nanomaterials for heavy metal removal from aqueous reservoirs(Bhagat and Giri, 2021; S Biswas et al., 2021; Dong et al., 2021; Solanki et al., 2024; J Yang et al., 2019).
Nanomaterial Mechanism Surface Porosity Functional Adsorption Regeneration Magnetic Metal Advantages Disadvantages Examples Cost Maturity
of removal area groups capacity ease properties selectivity
(m2/g) (mg/g)
Functionalized Adsorption, ion High Moderate Carboxyl, Varies Moderate No Broad High surface area, Potential Functionalized High Medium
Carbon exchange, chelation Hydroxyl, etc. high adsorption environmental risks, CNTs for Pb,
Nanomaterials (CNTs, capacity, tunable difficult regeneration Cd, As
Graphene, Graphene functionality
Oxide)
Zeolite Nanoparticles Ion exchange, Moderate High Silanol, Varies Moderate No Depends on High selectivity, Limited capacity, pH- Clinoptilolite Medium High
adsorption Aluminol, etc. zeolite type good regeneration dependent for Pb, Cd, Cs
potential
Polymer-Based Adsorption, Low to Low Amine, Thiol, etc. Varies Low to Moderate No Tailorable with Biocompatible, Can be an expensive, Chitosan beads Medium Medium
Nanomaterials encapsulation, Moderate functional groups good stability complex synthesis for Cu, Cr
chelation
Cellulose-Based Adsorption, High Moderate Hydroxyl, Varies Moderate No Abundant, Biocompatible, Lower capacity than Cellulose Low Medium
Nanomaterials chelation Carboxyl, etc. renewable low cost some other materials nanofibers for
Hg, Pb
08
Dendrimer-Based Adsorption, Moderate Low Amine, Varies Low to Moderate No A high degree of Highly selective, Complex synthesis, PAMAM High Low
Nanomaterials chelation Carboxyl, etc. functionalization high-capacity high cost dendrimers for
Pb, Hg
Chitosan-Based Adsorption, Moderate Moderate Amine, Varies Moderate No Good Biodegradable, Limited pH range, Chitosan beads Low Medium
Nanomaterials chelation Hydroxyl, etc. biocompatibility, high adsorption lower capacity than for Cu, Cr
abundant capacity some
Magnetic Adsorption, Varies Varies None Varies Moderate Yes Easy separation, Tunable Potential Iron oxide Medium Medium
Nanomaterials separation with reusable properties, high environmental risks, nanoparticles
magnetic field recovery efficiency complex synthesis for As, Pb
Nanocomposite Adsorption, Varies Varies Depends on Varies Moderate Yes Enhanced High recyclability, Complex synthesis has, Fe3O4- High Low
Magnetic separation with Components adsorption good selectivity higher cost than a graphene oxide
Nanoparticles magnetic field capacity, tunable single component for Pb, Hg
properties
Metal Oxides and Adsorption, High Moderate Hydroxyl, Varies Moderate No Varies with metal High reactivity, Can be expensive, pH- TiO2 for Pb, Cr Medium High
Metal-Based photocatalysis Carboxyl, etc. oxide potential for dependent
Nanomaterials degradation
(TiO2, ZnO)
10.3389/fenvs.2024.1393694
Silica-Based Adsorption, High Moderate Silanol, Varies Moderate No High surface area, Biocompatible, Lower capacity than Mesoporous Medium Medium
Nanomaterials encapsulation Hydroxyl, etc. good stability can be some other materials silica for Pb, Cd
functionalized
frontiersin.org
TABLE 4 Zeolite nanoparticles for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions (Mo et al., 2022; Umejuru et al., 2023; B Zhao et al., 2024).
Parameter Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples

Mechanism of - Ion exchange: Exchange of ions between - High efficiency and selectivity - Limited capacity for some - Clinoptilolite for Pb, Cd, Cs.
Removal zeolite framework and metals in solution for specific metals metals - NaX for Pb, Ni. - Mordenite
for Cu, As
- Adsorption: Physical attraction of metal ions - High adsorption capacity - pH-dependent performance
to the high surface area of zeolite nanoparticles
- Chelation: Formation of strong bonds - Good regeneration potential - Potential for nanoparticle
between metal ions and functional groups on release into the environment
zeolites
- Environmentally friendly
2
Surface Area Typically in the range of 200–800 m /g, - Increased adsorption - Can be energy - Nanoporous zeolites
providing abundant sites for metal interaction capacity synthesized with hydrothermal
methods
- Enhanced removal efficiency - intensive to achieve high surface
area
Pore Size Can be microporous (<2 nm), mesoporous - Tailored selectivity for - Complex synthesis methods for - Mesoporous zeolites for
(2–50 nm), or macroporous (>50 nm), allowing different metal ions desired pore size distribution larger metal ions like Pb.
targeting of specific metal sizes - Microporous zeolites for
- Increased accessibility for smaller ions like Cd
larger metal ions
Surface Introduction of functional groups (e.g., -OH, - Improved selectivity and - Can increase the cost and - Amine-functionalized
Modification -NH2, -SH) to enhance metal binding adsorption capacity for specific complexity of synthesis zeolites for Cu removal.
metals - Thiol-functionalized zeolites
for Hg removal
- Can target different
mechanisms (e.g., chelation)
Composites Combining zeolites with other materials (e.g., - Improved separation and - Can be more complex to - Zeolite-magnetic
magnetic nanoparticles, biopolymers) for reusability with magnetic synthesize and characterize nanoparticle composites for
enhanced functionality properties easy separation.
- Zeolite-biopolymer
- Increased stability and composites for improved
biocompatibility with durability
biopolymers
Cost Generally lower than some other nanomaterials - Affordable option for large- - Highly purified and modified - Naturally occurring zeolites
(e.g., dendrimers), but dependent on specific scale applications zeolites can be more expensive like clinoptilolite are cost-
synthesis methods and modifications effective
Maturity Well-established technology with numerous - Reliable and readily available - Not all advanced modifications - Several commercial products
research studies and pilot-scale demonstrations technology are commercially available yet. based on natural and modified
zeolites exist
These differences result in distinct characteristics in the Zeolites serve as effective catalysts in chemical processes due to their
structure of zeolite frameworks, enabling various industrial porous properties, facilitating unimpeded liquid flow through their
applications (Umejuru et al., 2023). For instance, zeolites with pores and supporting chemical reactions on their surfaces. Additionally,
low silica content and a Si/Al ratio of 1, possess a larger number they can be modified to enhance their adsorption capacity. Zeolite
of cation exchange sites, leading to higher cation contents and nanoparticles are utilized for eliminating hazardous metals from
exchange capacities. Zeolites with moderate silica content are wastewater owing to their reactive surfaces and expansive area
essential for enhancing heat and acid resistance, crucial for (Deravanesiyan et al., 2015). Both natural zeolites like clinoptilolite
catalytic purposes. Conversely, high silica zeolites exhibit and synthetic variants such as zeolite 4A and zeolite X are commonly
excellent adsorption capabilities, particularly for organic employed for heavy metal treatment (Gao et al., 2022). These zeolites
molecules with lower polarity, and limited affinity for water and assist in transmitting alkali and alkaline earth metals to balance the
other polar substances. They feature a more uniform surface and a overall negative charge within the framework. Sprynskyy et al. (2006)
preference for organic molecules, along with greater resistance to conducted a sorption experiment using natural zeolites, specifically
water due to their porous crystal structure (Mo et al., 2022). clinoptilolite, for heavy metal elimination. The process involved three
Table 4 presents data on the efficacy of zeolite nanoparticles in phases: rapid adsorption on the surface, an inversion stage, and
removing heavy metals from aqueous solutions, detailing their diffusion flow from within the microcrystals. Particle size
adsorption capacity and efficiency for various heavy metal significantly influenced metal ion absorption, with smaller particles
contaminants. This table provides valuable insights into the enhancing removal. However, clinoptilolite’s adsorption efficacy varied
potential of zeolite nanoparticles as efficient adsorbents in water slightly when treating solutions with one metal versus multiple metals
treatment processes. due to distinct sorption sites.

Various studies have distinguished natural and synthetic metal pollutants, ensuring efficient removal from water sources
zeolites, highlighting synthetic versions’ superior effectiveness in (Razman Shah et al., 2023; Y Wang and Sun, 2021). Additionally,
metal ion removal (Vishnu et al., 2021; Jarosz et al., 2022). Yurekli these materials boast impressive mechanical properties, including
(2016) demonstrated that incorporating zeolite nanoparticles (NaX) high strength and flexibility, ensuring durability and stability during
into polysulfone membranes effectively removes lead and nickel the adsorption process, even under challenging environmental
from water-based solutions, enhancing metal impurity elimination conditions, maintaining consistent performance over time.
and reducing membrane pressure. Jain et al. (2021) developed an Table 5 presents an overview of polymer-based nanomaterials
ultrathin forward osmosis (FO) membrane using cellulose acetate used in heavy metal removal processes, showcasing their
(CA) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles through phase promising adsorption capacities and tailored characteristics for
inversion. The membrane exhibited high water permeability and effective capture of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.
stability, characterized by scanning electron microscopy, elemental Synthesis methods for polymer-based nanomaterials, such as
mapping, and x-ray diffraction. Evaluating FO performance showed electrospinning, polymerization, and self-assembly, offer versatility
consistent water flux and low reverse salt flux, with an average water in fabricating diverse structures tailored to specific applications.
flux of 33.63 L/m2/h and reverse salt flux of 10.34 g/m2/h attributed Moreover, their cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness make them
to strong hydrogen bonding between cellulose ester and titania attractive options for large-scale water treatment endeavors.
particles. The membrane demonstrated high efficiency for water Polymer-based nanomaterials show great potential for heavy
desalination, promising for practical applications. In another study, metal removal from water due to their high adsorption capacity,
Khorram Abadi et al. (2023) employed electrospun nanofibers made customizable surface chemistry, and robust mechanical properties.
of polyvinyl alcohol and nano zeolite (PVA/NaX) to eliminate Ni2+ Continued research and development efforts are necessary to
and Cd2+ ions, finding Cd2+ ions had higher adsorption capacity. optimize their performance and overcome challenges for their
Another study evaluated three sorbents (ANIZ, NaX zeolite practical implementation in water treatment processes.
granules, Al2O3 nanoparticles) for Cr3+ and Co2+ ion removal,
emphasizing pH’s crucial role, with pH 5 and 6 most effective for 3.3.1 Cellulose-based nanomaterials
Cr3+ and Co2+ removal, respectively. ANIZ exhibited superior Researchers investigated the efficacy of biopolymer-based
removal efficiency for both ions compared to Al2O3 adsorbents, particularly cellulose, for the removal of harmful
nanoparticles and NaX. heavy metals from water (Yusuf, 2021). Abou-Zeid et al. (2018)
Furthermore, Al-Jubouri & Holmes (2020) demonstrated the synthesized three bioadsorbents: tetramethyl piperidine oxide-
production of carbon composites using 4A and 4A zeolite to extract oxidized 2,3,6-tricarboxylic cellulose nanofibers (T-CNFs), TPC-
cobalt ions from water solutions, significantly increasing ion cellulose nanofibers (TPC-CNFs) with and without polyamide-
exchange capacity and enhancing cobalt removal efficiency by amine-epichlorohydrin crosslinker (PAE). They assessed the
adjusting pH and temperature. effectiveness of these adsorbents in purifying water contaminated
with Cu, Pb, and Ca ions. For lead and copper ions, the adsorption
capacities of crosslinked TPC-CNFs were determined to be
3.3 Polymer-based nanomaterials 82.19 mg/g and 97.34 mg/g, respectively. Mautner et al. (2016)
showed that CNF/P, formed by adding phosphate groups to
Scientists have shown significant interest in nanofibrous cellulose nanofibers using phosphoric acid, efficiently removed
membranes based on polymers such as cellulose and chitosan, copper ions from water. Cellulose nanofibers were developed by
widely regarded as environmentally friendly remediation methods Choi and Lee (2022) using electrospun cellulose acetate
(Yu et al., 2021). The presence of a well-designed porous fiber deacetylation and subsequent esterification to incorporate thiol
network, along with a large specific surface area and high gas groups. According to the Langmuir isotherm (Abuhatab et al.,
permeability, enhances their ability to absorb pollutants 2023), this modified nanomaterial has adsorption capabilities of
effectively (Muthukumaran et al., 2022). Their biodegradable 22.0 mg/g, 45.9 mg/g, and 49 mg/g for lead (II), cadmium (II), and
nature, customizable surface functional groups, and robust copper (II) ions, respectively. The functionalized nanomaterial
structural integrity make them ideal alternatives for adsorption. facilitated the removal of metal ions through complexation
Polymer-filled nanomembranes exhibit notable selectivity and interactions between surface thiol groups and divalent metals,
adsorption prowess due to unique functional moieties such as showcasing its effectiveness in water remediation. Similarly,
NH2, COOH, and SO3H (Elakkiya et al., 2021). These nano cellulose nanofibrous mats modified with citric acid were
adsorbents can be categorized based on the substrate utilized, fabricated using the same method, and batch adsorption studies
showcasing their versatility in heavy metal removal applications. confirmed their efficacy in eliminating chromium ions, particularly
With their distinct properties and adaptable functionalities, Cr (VI), from aqueous solutions (Chen et al., 2022).
polymer-based nanomaterials have emerged as promising
solutions for addressing heavy metal contamination in water. 3.3.2 Dendrimer-based nanomaterials
A significant advantage of these materials lies in their high A highly efficient method for eliminating toxic metals involves
specific surface area, facilitating increased interaction sites for heavy utilizing organic polymers equipped with functional groups capable
metal ion adsorption. This feature enhances adsorption efficiency by of strongly binding these harmful substances (Guo et al., 2022). This
promoting stronger interactions between the polymer matrix and system comprises a polymeric support with functional appendages,
metal ions. Moreover, the surface chemistry of polymer-based with various ratios of acrylamide and acrylic acid being employed to
nanomaterials can be tailored to selectively bind to specific heavy fabricate a superabsorbent polymer hydrogel (Ahmadian et al.,

TABLE 5 Polymer-based nanomaterials for heavy metal removal (Asif et al., 2021; Zambare and Nemade, 2021; Chauhan et al., 2022; Kayanja et al., 2023).
Property Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples

Functional Groups - Amine (-NH2) - Thiol (-SH) - Carboxyl - Tailorable for specific metal affinities - - Synthesis complexity - Potential Chitosan beads (-NH2) for
(-COOH) - Phosphonate (-PO3H2) High selectivity & and capacity toxicity concerns Cu, Cr
Surface Area - High surface area to volume ratio - Increased adsorption sites - Can be limited by particle size & Polyaniline nanofibers for
and morphology Pb, Cd
Porosity - Microporous, mesoporous, - Enhanced accessibility for metal ions - Fabrication complexity, Chitosan hydrogels
macroporous structures potential pore collapse (macroporous) for Hg
Biodegradability - Degradable by natural processes - Reduced environmental impact - Lower mechanical stability & Cellulose nanocrystals
and reusability for As
Charge - Cationic, anionic, neutral - Tailored electrostatic interactions - Limited effectiveness for Chitosan (cationic) for Cu
with metals oppositely charged metals
Composites - Incorporation of magnetic - Synergistic properties for removal & - Increased complexity & cost Metal-organic frameworks
nanoparticles, metals, zeolites, etc. and regeneration (MOFs) for Pb, Cd
Stimuli- - Respond to pH, temperature, light, etc. - Controlled release & regeneration - Complex design & and synthesis pH-responsive hydrogels
Responsiveness for Hg
2023). Designed to remove Cd (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), and Co (II) from Poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) resin underwent chemical
water, this hydrogel exhibits remarkable adsorption capacity. modification using either 1,2-diaminoethane or 1,3-
However, the effectiveness of the material in adsorbing cadmium diaminopropane, alongside 3-aminobenzoic acid, for the removal
and nickel ions is comparatively lower than its ability to adsorb of Pb (II), Zn (II), Cu (II), and Fe (II) from water (Hasanzadeh et al.,
copper and cobalt ions (Naseem et al., 2019). This discrepancy may 2013; Hasanzadeh et al., 2017). Additionally, Sohail et al. (I Sohail
arise from the smaller size of the cations, allowing them to easily et al., 2020; Sohail et al., 2021) adopted a divergent approach to
penetrate the polymeric support and undergo rapid chelation by the synthesize poly-amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, yielding zero-
functional arms. generation dendrimers measuring between 200 and 400 nm. These
The adsorption capacities of Zn (II), Pb (II), and Cd (II) ions dendrimers, featuring a higher concentration of functional groups
were found to be 7.2, 8.8, and 6.1 mmol/g, respectively, in nanofibers on their external surface, effectively eliminated nickel ions
made of a polyacrylonitrile base polymer, diethylenetriamine, from water.
ethylene glycol, and ethylenediamine, according to another study
(Morillo Martín et al., 2018). These nanofibers’ remarkable
adsorption capacity is due to their large surface area, which 3.4 Chitosan based nanomaterials
allows functional groups to interact with toxic metals more
effectively. Additionally, 1,3,5-tris (6-isocyanatohexyl)-1,3,5- Chitosan nanoparticles, derived from shellfish and crustaceans
triazinane-2,4,6-trione and diethylenetriamine were combined to like squid beaks, shrimp, prawns, and crabs, have several uses
form two novel polymers (Cegłowski et al., 2018). The ethylene (Ahmed et al., 2023). This hydrophilic polymer has beneficial
amine groups found in these nanomaterials can undergo properties such as non-toxicity, biodegradability,
complexation processes and bind metallic ions. The effectiveness biocompatibility, renewability, and biorenewability. Chitosan is
of the nano adsorbent in absorbing divalent copper, chromium, often obtained by breaking down chitin under acidic conditions
cobalt, and cadmium ions was greatly enhanced by including such as strong NaOH or enzymatic hydrolysis with chitin
pentaethylenehexamine to form longer amine chains, as deacetylase. Its unique characteristics can be further modified
compared to diethylenetriamine. chemically and mechanically to generate new functionalities,
Scientists made nanofiber membranes out of polyacrylonitrile expanding its potential applications. The increasing presence of
and metal-organic frameworks (MOF-808) using a co- -NH2 and -OH groups in chitosan, coupled with its excellent
electrospinning technique (Efome et al., 2019). The PAN/MOF- solubility in water and organic solvents, has attracted attention
808 nano adsorbent that was produced was outstanding in removing for its potential use as a chelating agent for pollutants like heavy
heavy metals from water, in the following order: Hg (II) < Pb (II) < metals and dyes in water purification processes (Bilal et al., 2022;
Cd (II) < Zn (II). This implies that the size and configuration of the Agha et al., 2024).
metals influence their interaction with active sites and complex Chemical changes and chelation can add functional groups to
formation. Another study (Ren et al., 2013) showcased the efficient chitosan’s structure, increasing its sorption and selectivity
extraction of hexavalent chromium impurities from wastewater properties. For instance, Dubey et al. (2016) produced carbon
using nanofibers composed of poly-(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), nanoparticles (CANPs) to remove Hg2+ ions from water,
achieving an impressive adsorption capacity of 90.75 mg/g within demonstrating an impressive adsorption capacity of 217.4 mg/g
a timeframe of less than 100 min. Furthermore, employing at 30°C. According to Saad et al. (2018), a nanocomposite made
amidoxime-modified polyacrylonitrile nanofibers proved highly of ZnO and chitosan successfully removed lead, copper, and
effective in eliminating divalent lead and copper ions from water. cadmium ions from water, exhibiting a strong predilection for

FIGURE 4
Illustration depicting the procedural steps involved in water purification utilizing MNPs.
Pb2+ ions, while adsorbing Cd2+ and Cu2+ ions at lesser rates. magnetic nanoparticles, with substantial surface areas, lack toxicity,
Similarly, a mixture of TiO2 and chitosan nanoparticles efficiently and easily disperse, prove to be reliable, efficient, and cost-effective
absorbed copper and divalent lead ions (Razzaz et al., 2016). water purifiers, particularly effective in removing heavy metals
Esmaeili and Khoshnevisan (2016) developed an alginate- (Ukhurebor et al., 2023). Figure 4 illustrates the sequential steps
functionalized chitosan nanoparticle composite, achieving a involved in water purification with MNPs, highlighting the efficiency
94.9% removal of Ni2+ ions from water. Moreover, Yuan et al. of MNPs in removing heavy metal impurities from water at each stage.
(2018) engineered porous three-dimensional carbon materials using Iron oxide nanoparticles, widely acknowledged for their
chitosan, exhibiting strong adsorption capabilities for Pb2+ and reusability, easy separability, and high adsorption capacity (Tao
Cd2+ ions in aqueous environments. The adsorption mechanism et al., 2023), play an indispensable role in various applications. Fe3O4
involves coordination and electrostatic interactions with functional nanoparticles, with an adsorption capability of 36 mg/g, effectively
groups present in the carbon compounds derived from chitosan. remove divalent lead ions from water-based solutions (Nassar,
Chitosan-based nanoparticles hold promise for various 2010). Additionally, Fe3O4 nanoparticles have successfully
environmental applications, particularly in heavy metal removal extracted Cu (II), Pb (II), Mn (II), and Zn (II) ions from water
from water, owing to their unique properties and versatile in separate research projects. Changes in conditions influence the
functionalities. Further research and innovation are crucial to electrostatic interactions between these nanoparticles and the
enhance their effectiveness and advance their practical specific metals, consequently impacting their adsorption capacity
implementation in water treatment processes. (Yamini et al., 2023; K Zhang et al., 2023).
Table 6 provides a comprehensive analysis of magnetic
nanomaterials utilized for the removal of heavy metals, offering
3.5 Magnetic nanomaterials detailed insights into their efficacy and mechanisms of action. This
exploration sheds light on the diverse range of magnetic
Magnetic nanoparticles, distinguished for their exceptional nanoparticles employed in heavy metal remediation strategies,
capacity to enhance toxic metal extraction and facilitate magnetic highlighting their potential for environmental applications.
separation (Zaman et al., 2022), are extensively utilized in Through a systematic examination, Table 6 elucidates the
environmental remediation due to their excellent recyclability post- promising advancements and challenges in harnessing magnetic
separation. As their dimensions decrease, significant alterations occur nanomaterials for efficient heavy metal removal.
in their properties. Non-magnetic nanoparticles, possessing smaller Nanorods, nanowires, and nanotubes, owing to their larger
surface areas and undergoing challenging separation processes, surface area, demonstrate remarkable efficiency in removing heavy
exhibit lower efficiency in water treatment compared to their metals from wastewater and water. For instance, Fe3O4 nanorods
magnetic counterparts (Ukhurebor et al., 2023). In contrast, exhibited adsorption capacities ranging from 76 to 127 mg/g for

TABLE 6 Magnetic nanomaterials for heavy metal removal: A detailed exploration (Suhasini & Thiagarajan, 2021; Targuma et al., 2021; Thakur & Kumar,
2023; Yamini and Devi Rajeswari, 2023; Yaseen et al., 2021; K Zhang et al., 2023; Zhu et al., 2016).
Nanomaterial Mechanism of Metal Advantages Disadvantages Examples Current status

removal selectivity
Iron Oxide Adsorption, co- Broad (Pb, Cd, As, High surface area, Potential environmental Magnetite Mature, widely
Nanoparticles (Fe3O4, precipitation, Hg, etc.) tunable properties, easy risks, agglomeration, nanoparticles, researched, and
γ-Fe₂O₃) magnetic separation separation with pH dependence maghemite commercially
magnet, reusable nanoparticles available
Cobalt Ferrite Adsorption, surface Pb, Cd, Ni, Co High magnetic Higher cost than iron Cobalt ferrite Emerging, promising
Nanoparticles (CoFe₂O₄) complexation, susceptibility, high oxides, potential toxicity nanoparticles due to high
magnetic separation adsorption capacity, performance but
good stability requires further
research on
environmental safety
Nickel Ferrite Adsorption, ion As, Cu, Zn High thermal stability, Lower adsorption capacity Nickel ferrite The early stage of
Nanoparticles (NiFe₂O₄) exchange, magnetic good chemical than some other ferrites, nanoparticles development requires
separation resistance, potential toxicity further optimization
magnetically separable and research on the
toxicity
Carbon-Based Magnetic Adsorption, Broad (Pb, Hg, Enhanced adsorption Complex synthesis has, Fe3O4-GO Growing interest, is
Nanomaterials (Fe3O4- chelation, magnetic As, Cr, etc.) capacity, high surface higher cost than single- composites, promising due to
Graphene Oxide, Fe3O4- separation area, good component materials Fe3O4-CNT enhanced
CNTs) conductivity, composites performance but
magnetically separable requires further
research on large-scale
synthesis and cost
reduction
Polymer-Magnetic Adsorption, Tailorable with Biocompatible, easy Complex synthesis, Fe3O4-chitosan The early stage of
Nanomaterials (Fe3O4- encapsulation, functional groups functionalization, potential environmental beads, Fe3O4- development, is
Chitosan, Fe3O4- chelation, magnetic (specific metal magnetically separable risks depending on the PAMAM promising for specific
PAMAM) separation selectivity) polymer component dendrimers applications but
requires further
optimization and
research on the
environmental impact
Cu+2, Cd+2, Ni+2, Zn+2, Pb+2, and Fe+2 ions in water (H Karami, 2017). This simplifies the cleanup process by facilitating the retrieval
2013; N Karami et al., 2024). However, the oxidation and aggregation of nanoparticles along with attached heavy metal pollutants,
tendencies of bare magnetic nanoparticles limit their practical value in enabling further treatment or disposal.
water. Functionalizing the surface of magnetic nanoparticles enhances Moreover, the composite structure enables the integration of
stability, increases adsorption capacity, and improves selectivity. different adsorbent materials onto the magnetic core, allowing for
Various surface modifiers, such as carbonaceous, biomolecule, precise customization of performance in removing specific heavy
inorganic, organic, and polymer substances, have been utilized to metals. Materials like activated carbon, graphene oxide, or chitosan
modify magnetic nanoparticles’ surfaces. Functionalization prevents can be incorporated to enhance adsorption efficiency (Abo Markeb
aggregation and enhances interactions between metals and surfaces, et al., 2023).
including electrostatic, chemical bonding, and complex formation. Additionally, nanocomposite magnetic nanoparticles exhibit
Tailoring magnetic nanoparticles’ surfaces to selectively bind exceptional stability and reusability, making them cost-effective
hazardous metals through chelation significantly influences their alternatives for prolonged cleanup efforts. The presence of a
selectivity and effectiveness in adsorbing pollutants. Additionally, magnetic core ensures the nanoparticles remain suspended in
capping with hydrophilic coatings like polyethylene glycol inhibits water during remediation, preventing aggregation and ensuring
aggregation and increases surface area, further enhancing their consistent performance across multiple cycles. Recent research
adsorption capabilities. has demonstrated their effectiveness in removing various heavy
metals, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and chromium
3.5.1 Nanocomposite magnetic nanoparticles (Hasanzadeh et al., 2017; Shahamati Fard et al., 2021; Joshi et al.,
Nanocomposite magnetic nanoparticles are recognized as a 2022; Jjagwe et al., 2023; Mallick et al., 2023; Rani et al., 2023),
promising solution for heavy metal contamination due to their indicating their potential for practical use in addressing
unique characteristics and versatile applications (Bui et al., 2021). environmental challenges.
Comprising a magnetic core enclosed in a composite material, these Kim et al. (2013) synthesized flower-shaped Fe3O4/MnO2
nanoparticles offer several advantages for efficiently extracting nanocomposite. The research focuses on the development and
heavy metals from polluted water sources. One significant application of various metal ferrite nanocomposites for heavy
advantage is their heightened magnetic sensitivity, allowing for metal removal from aqueous solutions. Firstly, an adsorbent
easy extraction using external magnetic forces (Hasanzadeh et al., exhibited superior adsorption capacity for Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+,

and Zn2+ compared to Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Additionally, ferrites (e.g., ZnFe2O4, CuFe2O4), have a high attraction to certain
researchers synthesized metal ferrite magnetic nanoparticles with heavy metals (El Messaoudi et al., 2024; Y Zhang et al., 2021).
magnetic separation properties, represented by the general formula Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been employed to effectively eliminate
M (FexOy), where M denotes the metal atom forming divalent lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) ions from water solutions
bonds. Several metal ferrites including copper ferrite (CuFe2O4), due to their exceptional adsorption abilities. Conversely, metal
zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) (Tu et al., 2016; Tu et al., 2017), and ferrite nanoparticles have exhibited distinct adsorption
manganese-zinc ferrite (Mn0.67Zn0.33Fe2O4) (Tu et al., 2013) have characteristics for various heavy metals, depending on their
been developed for the removal of heavy metals. Specific studies chemical compositions (Chandrani et al., 2024). For example,
highlighted the efficacy of ZnFe2O4 in eliminating lead ions, ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles have demonstrated a significant attraction
CuFe2O4 in removing molybdenum ions, and Mn-Zn ferrites in to lead ions, whereas CuFe2O4 nanoparticles possess a notable ability
removing As5+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ ions. Furthermore, cobalt spinel to adsorb copper ions (Tu et al., 2017).
ferrites (CoFe2O4 and MnFe2O4) synthesized via the co- Modifying inorganic magnetic nanoparticles offers a versatile
precipitation method were utilized to remove divalent zinc ions approach to increase their affinity for specific heavy metals.
with notable adsorption capacities (Asadi et al., 2020). Another Applying organic ligands or polymers to these nanoparticles can
study (Vamvakidis et al., 2020) demonstrated the effectiveness of a improve their specificity and durability, thereby boosting their
nanocomposite cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) modified with effectiveness in heavy metal removal. The magnetic nanoparticles
octadecylamine coating in adsorbing Cu2+ ions from aqueous can be altered using various inorganic elements such as silica, metals,
solutions, with efficient separation and recovery processes. nonmetals, and metal oxides. The coatings stabilize nanoparticles in
Overall, these findings illustrate the potential of metal ferrite water-based solutions and increase their chemical bond to particular
nanocomposites as efficient adsorbents for heavy metal removal ligands. The magnetic nanoparticles were modified by adding
in water treatment applications. amorphous oxide shells made of Mn-Co. As a result, surfaces
Various magnetic nanocomposites, including metal oxides, have with substantial negative charges were formed at different
been developed for extracting heavy metals from water. For example, pH values. These nanoparticles were modified to enhance their
a Fe3O4/MnO2 nanocomposite with a flower-shaped structure ability to bind to Cu (II), Cd (II), and Pb (II) ions (Ma et al., 2013).
showed improved adsorption compared to iron oxide The reference provided the adsorption capacities for these ions as
nanoparticles (Kim et al., 2013). Metal ferrite magnetic 481.2, 386.2, and 345.5 (Ma et al., 2013). According to the electrical
nanoparticles, such as ZnFe2O4 and CuFe2O4, have demonstrated properties of the atoms participating in the complexation reaction,
a strong affinity for specific heavy metals, effectively removing them the technique efficiently removed lead ions but zinc ions to a lesser
from aqueous solutions (Wang et al., 2021; Alshehri et al., 2024). extent. To influence the creation of stable complexes by highly ionic-
Nanocomposite magnetic nanoparticles offer a promising method potential metals, the adsorption sequence tracked the hydrated ionic
for addressing heavy metal contamination by providing effective radius of the metals.
removal, convenient retrieval, and exceptional stability. Further Calcium carbonate, an inexpensive, non-toxic, and easily soluble
research and development in this area hold the potential to chemical, belongs to the carbonate group of inorganic chemicals
enhance the performance and scalability of these nanoparticles utilized to modify magnetic nanoparticles for recovering heavy
for broader environmental remediation initiatives. metals from water. Despite its numerous advantages, constraints
such sludge formation, restricted efficacy, and separation challenges
3.5.2 Inorganic functionalized magnetic hinder its widespread application in water and wastewater treatment
nanoparticles (Fadia et al., 2021). These challenges can be reduced through the use
Inorganic magnetic nanoparticles are increasingly being of magnetic nanoparticles, which increase their adsorption capacity
recognized as a viable method for tackling heavy metal pollution and facilitate their separation from the experimental media.
in several environmental contexts. The nanoparticles, made of Nanocomposites composed of magnetic mesoporous calcium
magnetic substances like iron oxides or metal ferrites, have carbonate were synthesized by Wang et al., 2020 via annealing
distinct characteristics that make them efficient adsorbents for after solvothermal treatment. The nanocomposites, measuring
removing heavy metals in water remediation procedures. An 50 nm in size and having an irregular spherical shape, efficiently
important benefit of inorganic magnetic nanoparticles is their eliminated Pb (II) and Cd (II) from water, with maximum
ability to respond to magnetic forces, enabling them to be easily adsorption capacities of 821 mg/g and 1179 mg/g, respectively.
separated from water using external magnetic fields (Gangaraju Inorganic magnetic nanoparticles have the potential to remove
et al., 2022). This enhances the retrieval of nanoparticles together heavy metals due to their extensive surface area, specific affinity
with absorbed heavy metal contaminants, streamlining the process for heavy metals, and the capability to be controlled using magnets
of cleaning up and allowing for further treatment or disposal. (A Islam et al., 2021; Islam et al., 2017). Further research and
Furthermore, inorganic magnetic nanoparticles demonstrate development are required to enhance the design and application of
elevated surface area-to-volume ratios, which offer abundant these nanoparticles for efficient environmental remediation.
active sites for the adsorption of heavy metals. The increased
surface area facilitates effective interaction between the 3.5.3 Carbon materials magnetic nanoparticles
nanoparticles and heavy metal ions in water, resulting in fast There have been significant breakthroughs made in the removal
adsorption rates and high removal efficiencies. Studies have of heavy metals from aqueous solutions by the utilization of nano
demonstrated that certain kinds of inorganic magnetic adsorbents, like graphene oxide and activated carbon. In order to
nanoparticles, such as iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and metal improve the adsorption capacity of surface nano adsorbents, Danesh

et al., 2016 carried out a study in which they investigated the efficacy Furthermore, competition between chromate and hydroxide (OH-)
of graphene oxide, iron oxide, and EDTA for the adsorption of lead ions for binding sites weakened the adsorption as the pH rose. While
ions. This improvement is attributed to the coordinating properties other components present in low amounts or at higher pH levels didn’t
of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and the hydroxyl and affect the process, this method proved effective for removing metal ions
carboxyl groups that are thought to be present in graphene oxide. at low pH and high metal concentrations.
Increased electrostatic interactions between the surface functional
groups and hazardous metals are made possible as a result of these
properties. By producing extremely effective Fe3O4 nano adsorbents 3.6 Metal-based nanomaterials for efficient
that were treated with EDTA, Ghasemi et al., 2017 were able to attain heavy metal remediation
adsorptive capacities that ranged between 71 and 169 mg/g for ions
such as Hg2+, Ag+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+. A Metal oxides and metal-based nanomaterials play a significant
nanocomposite with a peak adsorption capability of 28.8 mg/g role in heavy metal remediation due to their unique properties and
for the removal of lead2+ was created by Li et al., 2020 by the high surface area-to-volume ratios, which make them efficient
synthesis of Fe3O4@C-SH nanoparticles. This was accomplished by adsorbents for removing heavy metals from contaminated
functionalizing the nanoparticles with thiol (SH) groups. environments (Gupta et al., 2021; Ani and Egbosiuba, 2023;
Functional groups derived from organic sources have been explored Bichave et al., 2023). These nanomaterials can be tailored to
to enhance the ability of magnetic nanoparticles to adsorb heavy metals. target specific heavy metals, offering a versatile and effective
Ge and co-authors (Ge et al., 2012) synthesized Fe3O4 magnetic approach to remediation. Iron oxide (Fe3O4), titanium dioxide
nanoparticles and functionalized them with 3-amino propyl (TiO2), and manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles have been
triethoxysilane (APTES), acrylic acid (AA), and crotonic acid (CA) extensively studied for their ability to adsorb heavy metals through
for the removal of metal ions. The use of the modified adsorbent mechanisms like ion exchange, surface complexation, and
demonstrated a preferential elimination sequence of metal ions, with precipitation (Bichave et al., 2023). For example, Fe3O4
decreasing reactivity observed in the order of Pb > Cu > Zn > Cd. nanoparticles have shown promising results in removing heavy
Another study utilized EDTA-modified silica-coated magnetic metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic from water systems.
nanoparticles to remove divalent mercury, with the addition of These materials can be functionalized or modified with specific
dithiocarbamate groups leading to increased hazardous metal ligands or coatings to enhance their adsorption capacity and selectivity
removal and enhanced adsorption capability. The modification of for target heavy metals. For instance, silver nanoparticles have
silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles was done using glutathione to demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties and can be utilized in
create the GSH/SiO2/Fe3O4 nano adsorbent, specifically designed for conjunction with other nanomaterials for the removal of heavy metals
removing lead ions from water (J Wang et al., 2024; P Xu et al., 2017). and microbial contaminants from water sources (Alamier et al., 2023;
Lead ion adsorption was enhanced at higher temperatures and the Dutta et al., 2023). Table 7 presents an overview of nanoparticles and
magnetic properties of the adsorbent aided in its removal from the metal oxides utilized in the removal of heavy metals from water. It
reaction mixture. The study used iron oxide nanoparticles treated with details their properties, efficiency, and mechanisms of action, providing
metformin and amine to remove copper ions from water. The addition valuable insights for environmental remediation strategies. This
of silica and 0.1 wt% metformin led to a significant reduction of 92% in comprehensive compilation aids in understanding the diverse
copper ions (Ghaemi et al., 2015; Ghaemi, 2016). Meanwhile, Shen et al. applications of nanomaterials in tackling heavy metal pollution in
(Shen et al., 2012; Shen et al., 2013) investigated the adsorption process aqueous environments.
of Cr6+ using tetraethylene pentaamine-modified magnetic Regeneration: Additionally, the utilization of hybrid
nanoparticles. Their findings revealed that a decrease in electrostatic nanomaterials, which amalgamate metal oxides with organic
interaction and charge transfer on the resulting adsorbents facilitated compounds or polymers, engenders synergistic effects enhancing
the adsorption of Cr6+. Zhang et al., 2019 effectively extracted Cr6+ adsorption efficiency and stability (Babar et al., 2022). These hybrid
from water using nitrogen-doped Fe3O4 magnetic porous carbon materials offer tailored properties that mitigate challenges related to
modified with humic acid, achieving a mass of 130.5 mg/g due to heavy metal contamination, such as pH sensitivity, competition
the presence of surface functional groups. A nanocomposite comprising from other ions, and environmental stability. Recent investigations
Fe3O4/SiO2/chitosan and triethylenetetramine was capable of extracting (Raza et al., 2023; Vinoth and Wang, 2023) suggest that metallic and
Cr6+ from water, adsorbing 254.6 mg/g Cr6+ within 15 min (X Wang metal oxide nanoparticles hold promise in removing heavy metals
et al., 2020). Additionally, Shen et al., 2013 synthesized core-shell Fe3O4 from water. However, due to their inherent instability and
nanoparticles with NH2 magnetic nanoparticles, demonstrating the difficulties in separation, pure metal nanoparticles are not ideal
adsorption of Cr6+ and Cu2+ ions in both simultaneous and individual for use as adsorbents. Encapsulating or modifying the surface of
metal-ion systems (MISs). Changes in pH significantly impacted how nanostructured adsorbents improves their stability and facilitates
well copper (Cu2+) and chromium (Cr6+) ions stuck (adsorbed) to the their separation (Kanel et al., 2006). Zero-valent nanoiron Fe0 is
material. At low pH (2–4), electrostatic forces were the main driver of biologically inert, exhibits stability in water treatment applications,
adsorption. However, as the solution became more acidic, the boasts a substantial surface area, and demonstrates excellent
-NH2 groups changed their charge (protonated), reducing their adsorption capacity (Kanel et al., 2006). Consequently, some
ability to bind metal ions. Interestingly, Cu2+ adsorption still researchers have utilized Fe0 as a means to eliminate harmful
improved despite this change. Above pH 4, Cu2+ likely formed metals from water (Kanel et al., 2006; Xiao et al., 2017; Xia et al.,
precipitates due to the attraction between negatively charged 2023). The oxygen present in metallic oxides reacts with aqueous
chromate (HCrO4) and positively charged -NH3+ groups. pollutants, leading to their removal. Numerous studies worldwide

TABLE 7 Nanoparticles and metal oxides for the removal of heavy metals from water (Balakumar and Manivannan, 2021; Iqbal et al., 2022; Alhalili, 2023;
Chakraborty et al., 2023; El-Sawy et al., 2023).
Metal Oxide/ Mechanism Metal Advantages Disadvantages Examples Cost Maturity

Metal-Based of removal selectivity
nanomaterial
Iron Oxide (Fe2O3, Adsorption, Varies based on High surface area, Can be pH-dependent, Magnetite (Fe3O4) Low High
Fe3O4) photocatalysis type (e.g., Cr for good recyclability, low potential environmental for As, Pb, Cd
Fe3O4) cost risks
Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysis, Broad, enhanced High activity, good Requires UV light, Anatase TiO2 for Medium High
(TiO2) adsorption under UV light stability, self-cleaning potential toxicity Pb, Hg, Cr
concerns
Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Adsorption, Broad, enhanced High surface area, Can be pH-dependent, ZnO nanoparticles Medium High
photocatalysis under UV light photoluminescence potential toxicity for Pb, Cu, Cd
properties concerns
Aluminum Oxide Adsorption, ion High for As, P High surface area, Lower capacity than Activated alumina Medium High
(Al2O3) exchange good stability, some other oxides for As, F
abundant
Manganese Oxide Adsorption, Broad, high High surface area, high Can be unstable at low Birnessite (MnO2) Medium High
(MnO2) oxidation affinity for As redox potential pH, potential for As, Pb, Hg
environmental risks
Cerium Oxide (CeO2) Adsorption, Broad, high High surface area, Expensive, limited CeO2 nanoparticles High Low
oxidation affinity for good redox stability commercial availability for As, Pb
arsenic
Silver Antimicrobial Broad, especially High biocidal activity, Expensive, potential Silver nanoparticles High Medium
Nanoparticles (Ag) activity, adsorption antibacterial good dispersibility environmental risks for bacterial
disinfection and
metal removal
Metal-Organic Adsorption, ion Tailorable for High surface area, Complex synthesis, UiO-66 MOF for High Low
Frameworks (MOFs) exchange specific metals tunable porosity limited stability Pb, Cd
have investigated various nano metal oxides, including ferric oxides heavy metals. Sounthararajah et al., 2015 demonstrated that the process
such as hydrous ferric oxide, hematite (α-Fe2O3), goethite (α- of single-system adsorption effectively eliminated a greater number of
FeOOH), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), zinc oxides, metals as a result of the competition for adsorption sites among many
cerium oxides, titanium oxides, aluminum oxides, and adsorbates. A sodium titanate-based nanofibrous adsorbent effectively
magnesium oxides, as well as hydrous manganese oxide and eliminated Pb+2, Cu+2, Cd+2, Ni+2, and Zn+2 (Zhou et al., 2021). The
mixed-valence manganese oxide (Recillas et al., 2010; Wang CuO nanoparticles, produced via magnetron sputtering, exhibited a
et al., 2010; Wang et al., 2011; El Mouden et al., 2023). high absorption capacity of 37.02 mg/g for Pb2+ and 15.62 mg/g for
Hierarchically structured metal oxides are renowned for their Cr6+ in aqueous solutions (Sounthararajah et al., 2015).
high reactivity towards heavy metal ions, favorable surface-to-
volume ratio, mechanical strength, and ease of regeneration. Fe⁰
exhibits a higher absorption capacity than metallic nanoparticles. 3.7 Silica based nanomaterials
When combined with water, Fe⁰ nanoscale zero-valent iron
effectively eliminates 99% of pentavalent arsenic. Silica-based nanomaterials are essential for cleansing water
The plant Syzygium jambos exhibits a high adsorption capacity for contaminated with heavy metals due to their carefully designed
Cr+6, reaching 983.3 mg/g. In a relevant study (Xiao et al., 2017), zero- pore size, regulated surface properties, and large surface area.
valent iron (Fe⁰) was synthesized from ferric chloride (FeCl₃) using this Modifying these nano adsorbents with thiol and amino groups
plant material. To ensure the stability of nano-iron particles, some improves their ability to selectively adsorb metals and increases
studies incorporate stabilizing agents in conjunction with Fe⁰. The their adsorption capacity (Sankareswaran et al., 2022; Trofymchuk
chitosan carboxymethyl β-cyclodextrin containing Fe⁰ acts as a et al., 2023). Due to their eco-friendly and non-toxic characteristics,
biodegradable stabilizer that reduces Cu2+ and Cr+6 to Cu0 and they have become more widely used in water treatment applications.
Cr3+, while also oxidizing Fe⁰ to Fe3+(Sikder et al., 2014). In Studies have compared the effectiveness of functionalized and non-
addition, bimetallic nanoparticles can eliminate heavy metals. The functionalized silica nano adsorbents in binding divalent ions such
efficiency of removing divalent copper ions by kaolinite-embedded as lead, nickel, and cadmium (Y Li et al., 2019; Peralta et al., 2021).
Fe/Ni nanoparticles is 99.8% (C Li et al., 2022; Zhan et al., 2021). Metal The materials evaluated included NH2-functionalized silica gel, non-
oxides possess the ability to effectively remove heavy metals from water. functionalized silica nanoparticles, and hollow silica spheres (Najafi
The metal oxide nanoparticles were categorized into magnetic and non- et al., 2012). The modified versions showed adsorption capabilities
magnetic types. Copper, Manganese, Iron, Cerium, Aluminum, and of 96.80 mg/g for lead, 31.40 mg/g for nickel, and 40.74 mg/g for
Zinc oxides are frequently used to purify water contaminated with cadmium. Chemical changes using phenyl groups and 3-

aminopropyl were utilized on silica nanospheres to improve the around 30%–20%. pH levels in aqueous solutions significantly influence
adsorption and elimination of divalent copper ions. the performance of nanomaterials, affecting their surface charge,
Interestingly, adding amino groups increased copper ion reactivity, and adsorption capacity for heavy metals (Alli et al., 2023;
adsorption. In a separate investigation, nitrilotriacetic acid altered Asmat-Campos et al., 2023; Assad et al., 2022; R Biswas et al., 2023).
silica gel to treat wastewater with two-valence lead, cadmium, and
copper ions. The improved nano adsorbent adsorbs 76.23, 53.15,
and 63.6 mg/g of Pb, Cd, and Cu in 2–20 min. The authors used 4.2 Impact of contact duration
silicon waste with kerf loss to create nanoporous silicon (NPSi)
functionalized with 3-amino-propyl-ethoxysilane (APTES) via The length of time nanosorbents interact with metal ions plays a
chemical etching and nanosilver. The functionalized nano crucial role in the cost-efficient treatment of water or wastewater
adsorbent was investigated for hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) polluted with harmful heavy metals. Extended contact durations
adsorption from water (Z Yang et al., 2020). The greatest between pollutants and adsorbents enhance adsorption efficiency by
adsorption capacity was 103.75 mg/g in 1 hour. Protonated prolonging the interaction between active chelation sites and the metals
amino groups reduced Cr (VI) to Cr (III) for adsorption. This (Aghababai Beni and Jabbari, 2022; Ahmad et al., 2023; Areche et al.,
improved nano adsorbent works after 5 adsorption cycles. 2023). Usually, in the early stages of adsorption, the removal efficiency
shows quick advancement, then progresses gradually. A study on the
adsorption of divalent mercury ions onto carbon-based nanoparticles
4 Environmental factors affecting the (CANPs) showed a significant increase in adsorption as the contact
performance of nanomaterials duration increased from 0 to 90 min (Dubey et al., 2016). The
adsorption rate initially increased rapidly, then slowed down
Nanomaterials have gained significant attention in gradually, and finally stabilized at 90 min.
environmental remediation due to their unique properties and Another study examined how divalent cadmium and lead ions
potential applications in removing heavy metals from aqueous bind to the surfaces of composite materials made from magnetic
environments. However, the performance of these nanomaterials nanoparticles (Hasanzadeh et al., 2017). Adsorption efficiency
can be influenced by various environmental factors (Kolluru et al., reached 91% within the initial 20 min of contact, achieving the
2021; Kumar & Kumar, 2023; Madkour et al., 2021; Solanki et al., maximum adsorption capacity of 48.54 mg/g for Cd(II) ions and
2024; J Yang et al., 2019). Understanding these factors is crucial for 100% efficiency with a capacity of 53.35 mg/g for Pb(II) ions
optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of nanomaterial-based (Hasanzadeh et al., 2017).
remediation strategies.
4.3 Adsorbent dosage impact

4.1 pH impact
The amount of pollutants eliminated is directly proportional to the
The solution pH plays a crucial role in the interactions between dosage of adsorbent used in the adsorption process. The increase in
nanomaterials and heavy metal ions. pH levels influence the surface dosage results in a greater number of active sites that can bind to heavy
charge of nanomaterials, consequently affecting their adsorption metals, hence improving the ability to absorb these metals (T Ahmed
capacity. At lower pH values, increased proton reactions occur with et al., 2023; Baby et al., 2022; Chandran et al., 2023; Li et al., 2021).
nanomaterials like Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron (NZVI), leading to a Nevertheless, even though there is a beneficial impact, the effectiveness
higher rate of conversion from H+ to H2, resulting in more reactive H+ of active sites declines when the surface area becomes smaller, worsened
and faster reduction rates (Suazo-Hernández et al., 2023; Y Zhang et al., by the clumping together of nanoparticles, finally limiting the ability to
2022). Under neutral pH conditions, surface coordination, electrostatic adsorb. Several research studies have examined how varying amounts of
sorption, and precipitation become more robust, leading to enhanced adsorbents affect the removal of heavy metals from water solutions
removal rates. Several studies have investigated the influence of pH on (Kaur and Roy, 2021; Guo et al., 2022; Kumar & Kumar, 2023). An
the adsorption capacity of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI). Zhang instance of using TiO2-coated chitosan was to eliminate divalent copper
et al. (2023) and Zhao et al. (2021) observed a significant decrease in and lead ions from water (Razzaz et al., 2016; Kashi et al., 2024). The
NZVI’s adsorption ability under extreme alkaline or acidic conditions. concentration utilized for this procedure was 2000 mg/L. It was noted
This phenomenon can be attributed to the impact of pH on NZVI that exceeding the ideal dosage of nanosorbent resulted in the buildup
corrosion and its consequent reactive lifespan. Liu et al. (2014) explored of nanoparticles and reduction of surface area, which in turn
the effect of pH on the removal efficiency of Hg(II) and Cr(VI) using diminished the ability to adsorb harmful metals.
pumice-supported NZVI in aqueous solutions. Their findings revealed Similarly, Huang et al. (Huang et al., 2017; Huang et al., 2019)
that higher pH levels led to increased removal rates for Hg(II) but showed that increasing the amount of adsorbent from 0.5 to 2 g/L
decreased removal rates for Cr(VI). Similarly, Wu et al. (2019) reported enhanced the efficacy of Fe3O4@C nano adsorbent in eliminating
enhanced removal rates of Cr(VI) with FeS nanoparticles stabilized by lead ions from water, resulting in an increase in removal efficiency
sodium alginate at increasing pH levels (from 4.0 to 6.0). However, they from 41% to 92%. Nevertheless, a higher dosage of the adsorbent led
also observed a decline in removal efficiency at a pH of 10.0. Xu and to a decrease in the efficiency of removal, decreasing from 41% to
Zhao (2007) investigated the impact of pH on the immobilization of 22%. This fall can be due to the clustering of the active sites
Cr(VI) in contaminated soil using carboxymethyl cellulose-stabilized responsible for binding lead ions. In a separate investigation,
NZVI. Lowering soil pH from 9.0 to 5.0 decreased Cr(VI) leaching from Nithya et al. (K Nithya et al., 2018; R Nithya et al., 2021)

conducted an experiment using superparamagnetic iron oxide positive correlation between temperature and immobilization
nanoparticles at varying doses between 0.1 and 1.8 g. The efficiency, with higher temperatures ranging from 15°C to 45°C
objective was to eliminate Ni2+ from aqueous solutions within a resulting in increased efficiency, consistent with the principles
90-min timeframe. (Rad et al., 2014). The researchers discovered outlined in the Arrhenius equation.
that the highest level of removal effectiveness, reaching 99%, was
attained when using an adsorbent dosage of 0.2 g (K Nithya et al.,
2018). The quantity of nanomaterials employed is a critical 4.5 Effect of ionic strength
determinant affecting the efficacy of heavy metal ion removal.
Multiple studies have identified the optimal quantities of A solution’s ionic strength, or ion concentration, is an important
adsorbents needed to achieve specific degrees of pollutant determinant of nanomaterials’ efficacy in heavy metal removal.
removal, aiding in the efficient and cost-effective utilization of According to Yang et al. (F Yang and Yang, 2022; G Yang et al.,
nanomaterials. Arshadi et al., 2014 found that increasing the 2022), nanomaterials may have their adsorption effectiveness reduced
quantity of immobilized NZVI on sineguelas waste biomaterial in solutions with high ionic strength because metal ions compete more
from 0.05 to 0.15 g resulted in a rise in the clearance rate of strongly with other ions in the solution. An increase in ionic strength
Pb(II) from 15.6% to 89%. However, escalating the dosage may also affect nanomaterial performance by changing their stability
further did not notably enhance the elimination effectiveness. and aggregation behaviour (L Kong et al., 2023; Q Kong et al., 2021).
Fu et al., 2015 investigated how sepiolite-supported NZVI Adsorption processes rely on ionic strength, which quantifies the effect
performed in removing Cr(VI) and Pb(II) from groundwater. of extra ions on molecule adsorption onto the adsorbent surface (Y Liu
Increasing the adsorbent quantity from 0.05 to 3.2 g/L improved et al., 2022; Musso et al., 2019), as it estimates the concentration of ions
the removal rates of Cr(VI) and Pb(II). The most effective dosage dissolved in a solution. To explore how experimental ionic strength
was determined to be 1.6 g/L, although clearance rates only showed a affects chelation efficacy, ions like Cl− and Na + are commonly added to
small improvement above this concentration. Zand et al., 2020 did a the solution. The concentrations and affinities of these extra ions can
study using different quantities of TiO2 nanoparticles for greatly impact the adsorption effectiveness.
phytoremediation of soil contaminated with Cd. Higher dosages The role of ionic strength in particle aggregation cannot be overstated
of TiO2 NPs were found to enhance the absorption of Cd by when considering electrostatic interactions. Particles aggregate when
Trifolium repens. Excessive doses led to a reduction in plant ionic strength increases, which lowers electrostatic repulsion and,
biomass as a result of toxicity. consequently, the number of available binding sites and the number
of ions that can be adsorbed (Y Liu et al., 2022). Sodium chloride, at a
concentration of 0.025 mM, enhanced the surface functional group
4.4 The effect of temperature dispersion of Fe3O4/SiO2/GSH nanoparticles, which in turn promoted
the adsorption of Pb2+ ions (P Xu et al., 2017). Increasing the sodium
The kinetics of adsorption processes incorporating nanoparticles chloride concentration to 0.2 mM reduced lead ion adsorption, perhaps
are greatly affected by temperature. The temperature variations can because it decreased the number of available chelation sites (P Xu et al.,
influence the speed at which heavy metal ions are adsorbed, diffused, 2017). Hasanzadeh et al., 2017 showed that the nanocomposite surface’s
and desorbed on the surface of nanomaterials (J Liu et al., 2020). affinity for Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions over Na + ions remained constant, as
Elevated temperatures can promote the movement of metal ions and heavy metal ion adsorption was unaffected even in the presence of 3 mol/
intensify their interaction with nanomaterials, leading to an L NaCl. These data highlight the sensitivity of the adsorption process to
augmentation in adsorption capacity (Shi et al., 2023). Nevertheless, sodium chloride content, as well as other parameters that influence the
high or low temperatures might induce alterations or clustering of adsorbent’s affinity for the target adsorbate.
nanomaterials, which can have a detrimental impact on their
functionality (Behnam and Firouzi, 2023; Khorram Abadi et al.,
2023). The temperature-dependent energy of reaction activity is a 5 Navigating the nano-revolution:
critical factor in the adsorption process. Temperature variations environmental impacts and challenges
significantly affect the equilibrium adsorption capacity of of nanomaterial-based heavy metal
nanomaterials. Elevated temperatures lead to a reduction in the remediation
interparticle spacing and expedite the redox reaction process (Yu
et al., 2023). Dubey et al., 2016 investigated to evaluate the efficacy Although nanoparticles present promising opportunities for
of chitosan-alginate nanoparticles in the removal of Hg(II) across a wastewater treatment due to their versatile features and ability to
temperature range of 10°C–40°C. The results revealed an enhancement selectively remove various contaminants through mechanisms such
in removal efficiency with increasing temperatures, peaking at 30°C and as adsorption and photocatalysis, there are still some obstacles that
subsequently declining gradually. Similar trends were consistently need to be overcome (Elsaid et al., 2023). The exponential
observed across various studies (Roostaee et al., 2022; Khorram advancement of nanomaterials surpasses our comprehension of
Abadi et al., 2023; Morales et al., 2023). Nassar (Nassar, 2010) noted their potential environmental and health hazards (Table 8).
an increase in the adsorption of Pb(II) using Fe3O4 nanoparticles at Significant areas of knowledge that need to be addressed include
elevated temperatures, particularly within the range of 298–328 K, the mechanisms by which nanomaterials are released, transported,
indicative of an endothermic adsorption process. Furthermore, Liu and exhibit behavior in water systems. Furthermore, it is necessary
et al. (1996) investigated the immobilization of Re(VII) in soil and to conduct thorough toxicological studies to investigate any negative
groundwater employing starch-stabilized NZVI. They observed a health consequences at appropriate dosages. Membrane filtration, a

TABLE 8 Potential Environmental and Health Impacts of Nanomaterials (Ahmed et al., 2024; Babu et al., 2021; Elsaid et al., 2023; Roostaee et al., 2022;
Yaqoob et al., 2020).
Category Potential Explanation Example Research needs

impact
Environmental Disruption of Due to their small size, nanoparticles can easily Silver nanoparticles used in clothing - Better understand the long-term
Impact Ecosystems enter and accumulate in organisms, potentially may harm aquatic life if released effects of nanomaterials on different
disrupting their physiology and impacting during washing organisms.
ecosystems - Develop methods to monitor
nanomaterials in the environment
Soil Nanoparticles can bind to soil particles and Landfills containing nanomaterials - Research the impact of
Contamination potentially alter nutrient cycling and soil fertility could contaminate surrounding soil nanomaterials on soil microbial
communities.
- Develop strategies to remediate
soil contaminated with
nanomaterials
Water Nanoparticles can enter water bodies through Fullerenes used in solar cells could - Investigate the fate and transport
Contamination wastewater discharge or industrial processes, leach into water if not properly of nanomaterials in water systems.
potentially harming aquatic life and impacting disposed of - Develop methods to remove
water quality nanomaterials from wastewater
Health Impact Inhalation Inhaling airborne nanoparticles can lead to Workers in nanomaterial production - Improve workplace safety
respiratory problems and inflammation facilities are at risk of inhaling regulations for handling
nanoparticles nanomaterials.
- Develop personal protective
equipment for workers
Skin Contact Nanoparticles can penetrate the skin and cause Consumers using cosmetics - Conduct thorough safety testing
irritation or allergic reactions containing nanomaterials could of nanomaterial-based consumer
experience skin problems products.
- Develop labeling guidelines for
products containing nanomaterials
Ingestion Ingestion of nanomaterials through contaminated Nanoparticles used in food packaging - Investigate the potential for
food or water can lead to gastrointestinal could migrate into food nanomaterials to migrate from food
problems and potentially other health effects packaging to food.
- Develop regulations for the safe
use of nanomaterials in food
packaging
Unknown Long- The long-term health effects of exposure to The potential for nanomaterials to - Conduct long-term studies to
Term Effects nanomaterials are still largely unknown cause cancer or other diseases needs assess the health risks of
further investigation nanomaterials.
- Develop methods for monitoring
human exposure to nanomaterials
current treatment technique, is hindered by issues such as pore 5.1 Advantages of nanomaterials
obstruction and reduced effectiveness over time caused by fouling
(Morales et al., 2023; Roostaee et al., 2022; Yaqoob et al., 2020). • High Efficiency and Selectivity: Due to their large surface area
Likewise, the ability to be used again is a significant obstacle for and unique functionalities, nanomaterials can effectively
nanosorbents. Optimally, these materials should effectively capture and remove even very low concentrations of
eliminate contaminants while facilitating straightforward post- specific heavy metals from aqueous solutions and soil.
treatment retrieval. The US Environmental Protection Agency • Versatility and Tunability: Different types of nanomaterials
(USEPA) has recognized crucial inquiries regarding the can be tailored to target various metals through surface
elimination of nanoparticles throughout the process of modifications and functionalization, offering a highly
wastewater treatment. These factors encompass comprehending adaptable approach.
the processes involved in eliminating nanoparticles, their • Potential In-situ Remediation: Certain nanomaterials can be
interactions with other pollutants, and the efficacy of directly injected into contaminated sites, enabling targeted
conventional techniques such as coagulation and carbon and efficient decontamination without extensive excavation.
adsorption. Moreover, it is necessary to develop tests in order to
detect probable degradation products that are produced during the
treatment process using these approaches. Continued research is 5.2 Challenges and environmental concerns
essential to create economical and reliable methods for assessing the
intricate characteristics of nanoparticles in wastewater treatment • Limited Understanding of Long-Term Impacts: The long-
(Babu et al., 2021; Elsaid et al., 2023; Ahmed et al., 2024). term fate and behavior of nanomaterials in the

environment are still not fully understood, raising concerns highly promising for water treatment, particularly in removing heavy
about potential unintended consequences. metals, owing to their high adsorption capacity and selectivity, even at
• Unforeseen Toxicity and Ecotoxicity: Some nanomaterials can low concentrations. Throughout this review, we have explored the
exhibit toxicity towards organisms, potentially harming efficacy of various nanomaterials, ranging from zeolites, polymers,
beneficial bacteria and disrupting ecosystems. chitosan, and metal oxides to metals, in extracting heavy metals
• Release and Persistence in the Environment: Accidental release or from water under diverse environmental conditions. Moreover, the
leaching of nanomaterials from treatment sites can lead to their functionalization of nanomaterials has emerged as a strategic approach
accumulation in various environmental compartments, posing to enhance separation efficiency, stability, and adsorption capacity,
risks to water resources and food chains. achieved through the incorporation of molecules such as biomolecules,
• Difficulties in Recovery and Reuse: Efficient and cost-effective polymers, and inorganic materials.
methods for recovering and reusing spent nanomaterials after However, despite the remarkable potential of engineered
remediation are still under development, raising concerns nanomaterials, several challenges and limitations persist, including
about waste management. issues related to aggregation, stability, mechanical strength, long-term
• Regulatory Uncertainty: As nanotechnology is a rapidly evolving performance, and scalability. Furthermore, nanomaterials’ potential
field, regulatory frameworks often struggle to keep pace, creating environmental and health impacts necessitate thorough investigation
challenges for responsible development and application. and consideration. In order to overcome these issues and create
sustainable nanomaterial-based remediation techniques, focused efforts
must be made in the future. This will require interdisciplinary
5.3 Mitigating the risks collaboration, adherence to green chemistry principles, and
comprehensive risk assessments to ensure nanomaterials’ safe and
Several strategies can be adopted to minimize the environmental effective deployment in heavy metal remediation at both laboratory
impact of nanomaterial-based remediation: and large-scale levels.
Further research endeavours are essential to optimize synthesis
• Environmental Design and Risk Assessment: Developing processes, enhance reusability and separation techniques, and
nanomaterials with inherent biodegradability or biocompatibility minimize environmental impacts. By doing so, we can contribute
and conducting thorough risk assessments before large-scale to developing robust solutions for mitigating heavy metal pollution
application. in water and safeguarding human health and the environment for
• Surface Modification and Coating: Coating nanomaterials future generations. In essence, while the journey towards harnessing
with biocompatible and environmentally friendly materials the full potential of nanomaterials for heavy metal remediation may
can reduce their toxicity and enhance their stability. be challenging, it is a journey worth undertaking to improve society
• Development of Recovery Technologies: Investing in efficient and preserve our planet’s precious water resources.
and cost-effective methods for collecting and reusing spent
nanomaterials is crucial for sustainable application.
• Improved Regulation and Collaboration: Strengthening Author contributions
regulatory frameworks and promoting collaboration
between scientists, engineers, and policymakers is essential AK: Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Validation,
for responsible development and deployment. Writing–original draft, Writing–review and editing. TM: Data
curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Resources,
Writing–original draft.
5.4 The future of nanoremediation
Despite the challenges, nanotechnology holds immense potential Funding

for revolutionizing heavy metal remediation. Through ongoing
research, development, and responsible implementation, the risks The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for
can be mitigated while harnessing the benefits of these the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
transformative technologies. Public awareness, engagement, and
transparent communication are all vital aspects of building trust and
ensuring the responsible development and application of nanomaterial- Acknowledgments
based solutions for a cleaner and healthier environment.
I am obliged to Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, and
Jimma University, Ethiopia to conduct my research.
6 Conclusion
In conclusion, the advancements in nanotechnology and Conflict of interest
nanoscience have heralded a new era in environmental engineering,
offering many eco-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient materials for The authors declare that the research was conducted in the
addressing pressing challenges such as heavy metal pollution in water. absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be
The unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials make them construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the
reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or
and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated endorsed by the publisher.
References
Abbas, W. T. (2021). Advantages and prospective challenges of nanotechnology Ahmed, A. M., Mekonnen, M. L., and Mekonnen, K. N. (2023). Review on
applications in fish cultures: a comparative review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 28 (7), nanocomposite materials from cellulose, chitosan, alginate, and lignin for removal
7669–7690. doi:10.1007/s11356-020-12166-0 and recovery of nutrients from wastewater. Carbohydr. Polym. Technol. Appl. 6, 100386.
doi:10.1016/j.carpta.2023.100386
Abbasi, N., and Khan, T. A. (2021). “Progress in carbon nanotubes for water
treatment,” in Contamination of water: health risk assessment and treatment Ahmed, S. F., Kumar, P. S., Ahmed, B., Mehnaz, T., Shafiullah, G. M., Nguyen, V. N.,
strategies, 509–518. et al. (2024). Carbon-based nanomaterials: characteristics, dimensions, advances and
challenges in enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen production. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
Abd El-Aziz, S. M., Sleem, A. A., and Abdel Maksoud, M. I. A. (2023). Comparative
52, 424–442. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.03.185
study of the antioxidant, toxicity, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing activities of
both Digenea simplex polysaccharides and their corresponding (ZnO–Au) bimetallic Ahmed, T., Noman, M., Rizwan, M., Ali, S., Shahid, M. S., and Li, B. (2023). Recent
nanoparticles. Cellulose 30 (1), 303–321. doi:10.1007/s10570-022-04878-y progress on the heavy metals ameliorating potential of engineered nanomaterials in rice
paddy: a comprehensive outlook on global food safety with nanotoxicitiy issues. Crit.
Abdelbasir, S. M., and Shalan, A. E. (2019). An overview of nanomaterials for
Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 63 (16), 2672–2686. doi:10.1080/10408398.2021.1979931
industrial wastewater treatment. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 36 (8), 1209–1225. doi:10.
1007/s11814-019-0306-y Alamier, W. M., Hasan, N., Syed, I. S., Bakry, A. M., Ismail, K. S., Gedda, G., et al.
(2023). Silver nanoparticles’ biogenic synthesis using caralluma subulata aqueous
Abd Elnabi, M. K., Elkaliny, N. E., Elyazied, M. M., Azab, S. H., Elkhalifa, S. A.,
extract and application for dye degradation and antimicrobials activities. Catalysts
Elmasry, S., et al. (2023). Toxicity of heavy metals and recent advances in their removal:
13 (9), 1290. doi:10.3390/catal13091290
a review. Toxics 11 (7), 580. doi:10.3390/toxics11070580
Alhalili, Z. (2023). Metal oxides nanoparticles: general structural description,
Abdel Wahab, M. M., Sayed, G. H., Ramadan, R. M., Mady, A. H., Rabie, A. M., Farag,
chemical, physical, and biological synthesis methods, role in pesticides and heavy
A. A., et al. (2023). Synergistic effects of graphene oxide grafted with barbituric acid
metal removal through wastewater treatment. Molecules 28 (7), 3086. doi:10.3390/
nanocomposite for removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution. Nanotechnol.
molecules28073086
Environ. Eng. 8 (2), 347–359. doi:10.1007/s41204-022-00274-w
Ali, A., Javed, R., Farhangi, S., Shah, T., Ullah, S., ul Ain, N., et al. (2023). Metal
Abdullah, T. A., Rasheed, R. T., Adnan, M., Qasim, B., Sajet, F., Mansoor, H. S., et al.
phenolic networks (MPNs)-based pH-sensitive stimulus responsive nanosystems for
(2023). A comprehensive review of the application of modified carbon nanotubes
drug delivery in tumor microenvironment. J. Drug Deliv. Sci. Technol. 84, 104536.
(CNTs) for the removal of metals from wastewater. Mater. Res. Express 10 (12), 122005.
doi:10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104536
doi:10.1088/2053-1591/ad1770
Al-Jubouri, S. M., and Holmes, S. M. (2020). Immobilization of cobalt ions using
Abobakr, S. M., and Abdo, N. I. (2022). Adsorption studies on chromium ion removal
hierarchically porous 4A zeolite-based carbon composites: ion-exchange and
from aqueous solution using magnetite nanoparticles. Egypt. J. Chem. 65 (8), 0–29.
solidification. J. Water Process Eng. 33, 101059. doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2019.101059
doi:10.21608/ejchem.2022.95319.4475
Alli, Y. A., Oladoye, P. O., Ejeromedoghene, O., Bankole, O. M., Alimi, O. A.,
Abo Markeb, A., Moral-Vico, J., Sánchez, A., and Font, X. (2023). Optimization of
Omotola, E. O., et al. (2023). Nanomaterials as catalysts for CO2 transformation into
lead (II) removal from water and wastewater using a novel magnetic nanocomposite of
value-added products: a review. Sci. Total Environ. 868, 161547. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.
aminopropyl triethoxysilane coated with carboxymethyl cellulose cross-linked with
2023.161547
chitosan nanoparticles. Arabian J. Chem. 16 (8), 105022. doi:10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.
105022 Almomani, F., Bhosale, R., Khraisheh, M., kumar, A., and Almomani, T. (2020).
Heavy metal ions removal from industrial wastewater using magnetic nanoparticles
Abou-Zeid, R. E., Dacrory, S., Ali, K. A., and Kamel, S. (2018). Novel method of
(MNP). Appl. Surf. Sci. 506, 144924. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.144924
preparation of tricarboxylic cellulose nanofiber for efficient removal of heavy metal ions
from aqueous solution. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 119, 207–214. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac. Aloulou, W., Aloulou, H., and Amar, R. B. (2022). Low-cost composite ultrafiltration
2018.07.127 membrane made from TiO2 and nanocomposite clay materials over zeolite support for
oily wastewater purification and heavy metals removal. Desalination Water Treat. 246,
Abu, S. R. M. (2022). Nanotechnology in wastewater treatment. Compr. Anal. Chem.
166–173. doi:10.5004/dwt.2022.28027
99, 105–134. doi:10.1016/bs.coac.2021.11.002
Alshehri, A., Alharbi, L., Wani, A. A., and Malik, M. A. (2024). Biogenic punica
Abuhatab, S., Pal, S., Roberts, E. P. L., and Trifkovic, M. (2023). Electrochemical
granatum flower extract assisted ZnFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4-Cu composites for excellent
regeneration of highly stable and sustainable cellulose/graphene adsorbent saturated
photocatalytic degradation of RhB dye. Toxics 12 (1), 77. doi:10.3390/toxics12010077
with dissolved organic dye. Langmuir. doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03265
Alzahrani, F. M., Alsaiari, N. S., Katubi, K. M., Amari, A., and Tahoon, M. A. (2022).
Adisasmito, S., Pramudita, D., Sumampouw, G. A., Mohtar, WHMW, and Indarto, A.
Synthesis, characterization, and application of magnetized lanthanum (III)-Based
(2023). “Sustainable applications and prospects of nanoadsorbents for wastewater
metal-organic framework for the organic dye removal from water. Adsorpt. Sci.
treatment,” in Adsorption through advanced Nanoscale materials: applications in
Technol. 2022. doi:10.1155/2022/3513829
environmental remediation, 533–584.
Amariei, G., Valenzuela, L., Iglesias-Juez, A., Rosal, R., and Visa, M. (2022). ZnO-
Agha, H. M., Abdulhameed, A. S., Jawad, A. H., Aazmi, S., Sidik, N. J., De Luna,
functionalized fly-ash based zeolite for ciprofloxacin antibiotic degradation and
Y., et al. (2024). Enhancing cationic dye removal via biocomposite formation
pathogen inactivation. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 10 (3), 107603. doi:10.1016/j.jece.
between chitosan and food grade algae: optimization of algae loading and
2022.107603
adsorption parameters. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 258, 128792. doi:10.1016/j.
ijbiomac.2023.128792 Ani, I. J., and Egbosiuba, T. C. (2023). “Metal oxides and their nanocomposites in
wastewater treatment,” in Adsorption through advanced Nanoscale materials:
Aghababai Beni, A., and Jabbari, H. (2022). Nanomaterials for environmental
applications in environmental remediation, 185–203.
applications. Results Eng. 15, 100467. doi:10.1016/j.rineng.2022.100467
Aragaw, T. A., and Ayalew, A. A. (2022). “Application of metal-based nanoparticles
Ahlawat, W., Dilbaghi, N., and Kumar, S. (2021). Evaluation of graphene oxide and its
for metal removal for treatments of wastewater -- a review,” in Emerging techniques for
composite as potential sorbent for removal of cationic and anionic dyes. in Paper
treatment of toxic metals from wastewater (Elsevier), 183–231.
presented at the materials today: proceedings.
Areche, F. O., Mamani, C. M. C., Cárdenas, J. A. L., Sumarriva-Bustinza, L. A.,
Ahmad, H., and Liu, C. (2021). Ultra-thin graphene oxide membrane deposited on
Pastrana, P. A. P., Porras-Roque, M. S., et al. (2023). A comprehensive review on
highly porous anodized aluminum oxide surface for heavy metal ions preconcentration.
monitoring and purification of water through tunable 2D nanomaterials. Braz. J. Biol.
J. Hazard. Mater. 415, 125661. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125661
83, e273843. doi:10.1590/1519-6984.273843
Ahmad, M. A., Adeel, M., Shakoor, N., Ali, I., Ishfaq, M., Haider, F. U., et al. (2023).
Arshadi, M., Soleymanzadeh, M., Salvacion, J. W. L., and SalimiVahid, F. (2014).
Unraveling the roles of modified nanomaterials in nano enabled agriculture. Plant
Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron (NZVI) supported on sineguelas waste for Pb(II) removal
Physiology Biochem. 202, 107944. doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107944
from aqueous solution: kinetics, thermodynamic and mechanism. J. Colloid Interface
Ahmadian, Z., Kazeminava, F., Afrouz, M., Abbaszadeh, M., Mehr, N. T., Shiran, J. A., Sci. 426, 241–251. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2014.04.014
et al. (2023). A review on the impacts of metal/metal nanoparticles on characteristics of
Arun, K. V. B., Dohroo, A., Kumar Upadhyay, A., and Ritu Bala %J Pollution
hydrogels: special focus on carbohydrate polymers. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 253, 126535.
Research (2018). Effect of microbial surfactants on heavy metal polluted wastewater, 37,
doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126535
39–46.

Arun Karnwal, N. C. (2012). Bioremediation of heavy metals. LAP Lambert Academic Chadha, U., Selvaraj, S. K., Vishak Thanu, S., Cholapadath, V., Abraham, A. M.,
Publishing GmbH & Co. KG. Zaiyan, M. M., et al. (2022). A review of the function of using carbon nanomaterials in
membrane filtration for contaminant removal from wastewater. Mater. Res. Express 9
Asadi, R., Abdollahi, H., Gharabaghi, M., and Boroumand, Z. (2020). Effective
(1). doi:10.1088/2053-1591/ac48b8
removal of Zn (II) ions from aqueous solution by the magnetic MnFe2O4 and
CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles with focuses on synthesis, characterization, Chakraborty, U., Kaur, G., Rubahn, H. G., Kaushik, A., Chaudhary, G. R., and Mishra,
adsorption, and desorption. Adv. Powder Technol. 31 (4), 1480–1489. doi:10.1016/j. Y. K. (2023). Advanced metal oxides nanostructures to recognize and eradicate water
apt.2020.01.028 pollutants. Prog. Mater. Sci. 139, 101169. doi:10.1016/j.pmatsci.2023.101169
Asif, M. B., Zhang, Z., Iftekhar, S., and Lehto, V. P. (2021). “Polysaccharide-derived Chandran, D. G., Muruganandam, L., and Biswas, R. (2023). A review on adsorption
biopolymeric nanomaterials for wastewater treatment,” in Biopolymeric nanomaterials: of heavy metals from wastewater using carbon nanotube and graphene-based
fundamentals and applications, 447–469. nanomaterials. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 30 (51), 110010–110046. doi:10.1007/
s11356-023-30192-6
Asmat-Campos, D., Lindsay Rojas, M., and Carreño-Ortega, A. (2023). Toward
sustainable nanomaterials: an innovative ecological approach for biogenic synthesis of Chandrani, D. N., Ghosh, S., and Tanna, A. R. (2024). Green synthesis for fabrication
TiO2 nanoparticles with potential photocatalytic activity. Clean. Eng. Technol. 17, of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles with photocatalytic dye degrading potential as a
100702. doi:10.1016/j.clet.2023.100702 sustainable effluent treatment strategy. J. Inorg. Organomet. Polym. Mater. doi:10.
1007/s10904-023-02981-6
Assad, H., Fatma, I., Kumar, A., Kaya, S., Vo, D. V. N., Al-Gheethi, A., et al. (2022). An
overview of MXene-Based nanomaterials and their potential applications towards Chauhan, P., Nehra, S., Sharma, R., and Kumar, D. (2022). Biopolymers supported
hazardous pollutant adsorption. Chemosphere 298, 134221. doi:10.1016/j. nanomaterials for water treatment. in Applications of advanced nanomaterials in water
chemosphere.2022.134221 treatment (Boca Raton: CRC Press), 63–80.
Azimi, A., Azari, A., Rezakazemi, M., and Ansarpour, M. (2017). Removal of heavy Chen, Y., Yang, G., Liu, B., Kong, H., Xiong, Z., Guo, L., et al. (2022).
metals from industrial wastewaters: a review. ChemBioEng Rev. 4 (1), 37–59. doi:10. Biomineralization of ZrO2 nanoparticles on graphene oxide-supported peptide/
1002/cben.201600010 cellulose binary nanofibrous membranes for high-performance removal of fluoride
ions. Chem. Eng. J. 430, 132721. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2021.132721
Babar, Z. B., Shahi, A., Rauf, A., Sattar, H., and Rizwan, K. (2022). “Organic–inorganic
nanohybrids for the removal of environmental pollutants,” in Materials horizons: from Choi, W. S., and Lee, H. J. (2022). Nanostructured materials for water purification:
nature to nanomaterials, 277–309. adsorption of heavy metal ions and organic dyes. Polymers 14 (11), 2183. doi:10.3390/
polym14112183
Babu, P. J., Ningthoujam, R., Singh, Y. D., Sarma, M. K., and Panda, M. K. (2021).
“NANOMATERIALS MEDIATED WASTEWATER TREATMENT,” in Nano- Danesh, N., Hosseini, M., Ghorbani, M., and Marjani, A. (2016). Fabrication,
biotechnological advancements in environmental issues: applications and challenges, characterization and physical properties of a novel magnetite graphene oxide/Lauric
65–99. acid nanoparticles modified by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and its applications as
an adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) ions. Synth. Met. 220, 508–523. doi:10.1016/j.
Baby, R., Hussein, M. Z., Abdullah, A. H., and Zainal, Z. (2022). Nanomaterials for the
synthmet.2016.07.025
treatment of heavy metal contaminated water. Polymers 14 (3), 583. doi:10.3390/
polym14030583 Deravanesiyan, M., Beheshti, M., and Malekpour, A. (2015). The removal of Cr (III)
and Co (II) ions from aqueous solution by two mechanisms using a new sorbent
Bahadi, S. A., Drmosh, Q. A., and Onaizi, S. A. (2024). Adsorption of anionic and
(alumina nanoparticles immobilized zeolite) - equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic
cationic azo dyes from wastewater using novel and effective multicomponent adsorbent.
studies. J. Mol. Liq. 209, 246–257. doi:10.1016/j.molliq.2015.05.038
Sep. Purif. Technol. 337, 126402. doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2024.126402
Dhara, P., and Grattan, K. T. (2024). “Nanomaterials for recovery of lead heavy metal
Balakumar, V., and Manivannan, R. (2021). “Metal oxide-graphitic carbon nitride
from wastewater,” in Application of nanotechnology for resource recovery from
nanocomposite-modified electrochemical sensors for toxic chemicals,” in Metal oxides
wastewater, 178–215.
in nanocomposite-based electrochemical sensors for toxic chemicals, 263–292.
Dong, X., Bhattacharjee, S., Zhang, C., and Chai, F. (2021). Titanium carbide-based
Behnam, H., and Firouzi, A. F. (2023). Effects of synthesis method, feedstock type, and
adsorbents for removal of heavy metal ions and radionuclides: from nanomaterials to
pyrolysis temperature on physicochemical properties of biochar nanoparticles. Biomass
3D architectures. Adv. Mater. Interfaces 8 (21). doi:10.1002/admi.202100703
Convers. Biorefinery 13 (15), 13859–13869. doi:10.1007/s13399-021-02108-2
Dubey, R., Bajpai, J., and Bajpai, A. K. (2016). Chitosan-alginate nanoparticles
Beiranvand, M., Farhadi, S., and Mohammadi-Gholami, A. (2022). Adsorptive
(CANPs) as potential nanosorbent for removal of Hg (II) ions. Environ.
removal of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin drugs from water by using a magnetic
Nanotechnol. Monit. Manag. 6, 32–44. doi:10.1016/j.enmm.2016.06.008
rod-like hydroxyapatite and MIL-101(Fe) metal-organic framework nanocomposite.
RSC Adv. 12 (53), 34438–34453. doi:10.1039/d2ra06213e Dutta, T., Barman, A., Bhattacherjee, S., Chakraborty, J., and Dutta, T. (2023).
Antimicrobial silver nanoparticles for water disinfection: a short review on recent
Bhagat, N. R., and Giri, A. (2021). “Nanotechnology for detection and removal of
advances. Nanotechnol. Environ. Eng. 9, 111–131. doi:10.1007/s41204-023-00354-5
heavy metals from contaminated water,” in Functionalized nanomaterials for catalytic
application, 185–226. Efome, J. E., Rana, D., Matsuura, T., and Lan, C. Q. (2019). Effects of operating
parameters and coexisting ions on the efficiency of heavy metal ions removal by nano-
Bhandari, H., Garg, S., and Gaba, R. (2021). Advanced nanocomposites for removal of
fibrous metal-organic framework membrane filtration process. Sci. Total Environ. 674,
heavy metals from wastewater. Macromol. Symp. 397 (1). doi:10.1002/masy.202000337
355–362. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.187
Bichave, M. S., Kature, A. Y., Koranne, S. V., Shinde, R. S., Gongle, A. S., Choudhari,
Elakkiya, S., Arthanareeswaran, G., Ismail, A. F., Goh, P. S., and Lukka Thuyavan, Y.
V. P., et al. (2023). Nano-metal oxides-activated carbons for dyes removal: a review.
(2021). Review on characteristics of biomaterial and nanomaterials based polymeric
Mater. Today Proc. 77, 19–30. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2022.08.451
nanocomposite membranes for seawater treatment application. Environ. Res. 197,
Bilal, M., Ikram, M., Shujah, T., Haider, A., Naz, S., Ul-Hamid, A., et al. (2022). 111177. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.111177
Chitosan-Grafted polyacrylic acid-doped copper oxide nanoflakes used as a potential
El Messaoudi, N., Ciğeroğlu, Z., Şenol, Z. M., Kazan-Kaya, E. S., Fernine, Y., Gubernat,
dye degrader and antibacterial agent: in silico molecular docking analysis. ACS Omega 7
S., et al. (2024). Green synthesis of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles from bioresource extracts
(45), 41614–41626. doi:10.1021/acsomega.2c05625
and their applications in different areas: a review. Biomass Convers. Biorefinery. doi:10.
Biswas, R., Anshuman, A., and Samal, B. N. (2023). A review on arsenic removal from 1007/s13399-023-05264-9
wastewater using carbon nanotube and graphene-based nanomaterials as adsorbents.
El Mouden, A., El Messaoudi, N., El Guerraf, A., Bouich, A., Mehmeti, V., Lacherai,
Nanotechnol. Environ. Eng. 8 (4), 1033–1046. doi:10.1007/s41204-023-00332-x
A., et al. (2023). Multifunctional cobalt oxide nanocomposites for efficient removal of
Biswas, S., Danish, M., and Pal, A. (2021). “Nanomaterials for the removal of heavy heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Chemosphere 317, 137922. doi:10.1016/j.
metals from water,” in Nanomaterials for water treatment and remediation, 181–215. chemosphere.2023.137922
Bui, N. T., Duong, L. T. B., Nguyen, T. T. C., and Tran, N. T. T. (2021). Heavy Elsaid, K., Olabi, A. G., Abdel-Wahab, A., Elkamel, A., Alami, A. H., Inayat, A., et al.
metal removal from polluted water by Nopal cactus biopolymer-based magnetic (2023). Membrane processes for environmental remediation of nanomaterials:
nanocomposites. Int. J. Nanoparticles 13 (1), 42–61. doi:10.1504/IJNP.2021. potentials and challenges. Sci. Total Environ. 879, 162569. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.
114901 2023.162569
Cano, F. J., Reyes-Vallejo, O., Ashok, A., Olvera, MDLL, Velumani, S., and Kassiba, A. El-Sawy, A. M., Salem, M. A., Salem, I. A., Hydara, M. M., and Zaki, A. B. (2023).
(2023). Mechanisms of dyes adsorption on titanium oxide– graphene oxide Sonophotocatalytic degradation of malachite green in aqueous solution using six
nanocomposites. Ceram. Int. 49 (13), 21185–21205. doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2023.03.249 competitive metal oxides as a benchmark. Photochem. Photobiological Sci. 22 (3),
579–594. doi:10.1007/s43630-022-00336-7
Cegłowski, M., Gierczyk, B., Frankowski, M., and Popenda, Ł. (2018). A new low-cost
polymeric adsorbents with polyamine chelating groups for efficient removal of heavy Esmaeili, A., and Khoshnevisan, N. (2016). Optimization of process parameters for
metal ions from water solutions. React. Funct. Polym. 131, 64–74. doi:10.1016/j. removal of heavy metals by biomass of Cu and Co-doped alginate-coated chitosan
reactfunctpolym.2018.07.006 nanoparticles. Bioresour. Technol. 218, 650–658. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.07.005
Cevallos-Mendoza, J., Amorim, C. G., Rodríguez-Díaz, J. M., and Montenegro, Fadia, P., Tyagi, S., Bhagat, S., Nair, A., Panchal, P., Dave, H., et al. (2021). Calcium
MDCBSM (2022). Removal of contaminants from water by membrane filtration: a carbonate nano- and microparticles: synthesis methods and biological applications.
review. Membranes 12 (6), 570. doi:10.3390/membranes12060570 3 Biotech. 11 (11), 457. doi:10.1007/s13205-021-02995-2

Fei, Y., and Hu, Y. H. (2023). Recent progress in removal of heavy metals from Jain, H., Yadav, V., Rajput, V. D., Minkina, T., Agarwal, S., and Garg, M. C. (2022). An
wastewater: a comprehensive review. Chemosphere 335, 139077. doi:10.1016/j. eco-sustainable green approach for biosorption of methylene blue dye from textile
chemosphere.2023.139077 industry wastewater by sugarcane bagasse, peanut hull, and orange peel: a comparative
study through response surface methodology, isotherms, kinetic, and thermodynamics.
Fu, R., Yang, Y., Xu, Z., Zhang, X., Guo, X., and Bi, D. (2015). The removal of
Water, Air, & Soil Pollut. 233 (6), 187. doi:10.1007/s11270-022-05655-0
chromium (VI) and lead (II) from groundwater using sepiolite-supported nanoscale
zero-valent iron (S-NZVI). Chemosphere 138, 726–734. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere. Jarosz, R., Szerement, J., Gondek, K., and Mierzwa-Hersztek, M. (2022). The use of
2015.07.051 zeolites as an addition to fertilisers – a review. Catena 213, 106125. doi:10.1016/j.catena.
2022.106125
Gangaraju, G., Ganesh, G., Uma Devi, R., and Balakrishna, K. (2022). “Plant material
assisted magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for the separation of inorganic pollutants,” in Jjagwe, J., Olupot, P. W., and Carrara, S. (2023). Iron oxide nanoparticles/
Phytonanotechnology (Springer Nature), 181–197. nanocomposites derived from steel and iron wastes for water treatment: a review.
J. Environ. Manag. 343, 118236. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118236
Gao, M., Yang, L., Yang, S., Jiang, T., Wu, F., and Nagasaka, T. (2022). Simple
aminated modified zeolite 4A synthesized using fly ash and its remediation of mercury Joshi, N. C., Gururani, P., and Gairola, S. P. (2022). Metal oxide nanoparticles and
contamination: characteristics and mechanism. Sustain. Switz. 14 (23), 15924. doi:10. their nanocomposite-based materials as photocatalysts in the degradation of dyes.
3390/su142315924 Biointerface Res. Appl. Chem. 12 (5), 6557–6579. doi:10.33263/BRIAC125.65576579
Ge, F., Li, M. M., Ye, H., and Zhao, B. X. (2012). Effective removal of heavy metal ions Kanel, S. R., Greneche, J. M., and Choi, H. (2006). Arsenic(V) removal from
Cd 2+, Zn 2+, Pb 2+, Cu 2+ from aqueous solution by polymer-modified magnetic groundwater using nano scale zero-valent iron as a colloidal reactive barrier
nanoparticles. J. Hazard. Mater. 212, 366–372. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.12.013 material. Environ. Sci. Technol. 40 (6), 2045–2050. doi:10.1021/es0520924
Ghaemi, N. (2016). A new approach to copper ion removal from water by polymeric Karami, H. (2013). Heavy metal removal from water by magnetite nanorods. Chem.
nanocomposite membrane embedded with γ-alumina nanoparticles. Appl. Surf. Sci. Eng. J. 219, 209–216. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2013.01.022
364, 221–228. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.12.109
Karami, N., Mohammadpour, A., Samaei, M. R., Amani, A. M., Dehghani, M., Varma,
Ghaemi, N., Madaeni, S. S., Daraei, P., Rajabi, H., Zinadini, S., Alizadeh, A., et al. R. S., et al. (2024). Green synthesis of sustainable magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4 and
(2015). Polyethersulfone membrane enhanced with iron oxide nanoparticles for copper Fe3O4-chitosan derived from Prosopis farcta biomass extract and their performance in
removal from water: application of new functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Chem. Eng. the sorption of lead(II). Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 254, 127663. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.
J. 263, 101–112. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2014.10.103 127663
Ghasemi, E., Heydari, A., and Sillanpää, M. (2017). Superparamagnetic Fe3O4@ Karnwal, A., Dohroo, A., and Malik, TJBRI (2023). Unveiling the potential of
EDTA nanoparticles as an efficient adsorbent for simultaneous removal of Ag(I), bioinoculants and nanoparticles in sustainable agriculture for enhanced plant growth
Hg(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) from water and soil environmental samples. and food security. 2023(Article ID 6911851). doi:10.1155/2023/6911851
Microchem. J. 131, 51–56. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2016.11.011
Karnwal, A., Kumar, G., Pant, G., Hossain, K., Ahmad, A., and Alshammari, M. B.
Godwin, J., Njimou, J. R., Abdus-Salam, N., Adegoke, H. I., Panda, P. K., Tripathy, B. (2023). Perspectives on usage of functional nanomaterials in antimicrobial therapy for
C., et al. (2023). Nanosorbent based on coprecipitation of ZnO in goethite for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. ACS Omega 8 (15), 13492–13508. doi:10.1021/
competitive sorption of Cd(II)-Pb(II) and Cd(II)-Pb(II)-Ni(II) systems. J. Environ. acsomega.3c00110
Health Sci. Eng. doi:10.1007/s40201-023-00882-x
Kashi, E., Surip, S. N., Khadiran, T., Nawawi, W. I., De Luna, Y., Yaseen, Z. M., et al.
Gong, Z., Chan, H. T., Chen, Q., and Chen, H. (2021). Application of nanotechnology (2024). High adsorptive performance of chitosan-microalgae-carbon-doped TiO2
in analysis and removal of heavy metals in food and water resources. Nanomaterials 11 (kronos)/salicylaldehyde for brilliant green dye adsorption: optimization and
(7), 1792. doi:10.3390/nano11071792 mechanistic approach. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 259, 129147. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.
2023.129147
Goyal, S., Dhanker, R., Hussain, T., Ferreira, A., Gouveia, L., Kumar, K., et al. (2023).
Modern advancement in biotechnological applications for wastewater treatment Kaur, S., and Roy, A. (2021). Bioremediation of heavy metals from wastewater using
through microalgae: a review. Water, Air, Soil Pollut. 234 (7), 417. doi:10.1007/ nanomaterials. Environ. Dev. Sustain. 23 (7), 9617–9640. doi:10.1007/s10668-020-
s11270-023-06409-2 01078-1
Guo, D., Huang, S., and Zhu, Y. (2022). The adsorption of heavy metal ions by poly Kayanja, O., Abdel-Aty, A. A. R., Hassan, M. A., Hassanin, A., Ohashi, H., and Khalil,
(amidoamine) dendrimer-functionalized nanomaterials: a review. Nanomaterials 12 A. S. G. (2023). A review on TMDCs nanomaterials and their surface engineered
(11), 1831. doi:10.3390/nano12111831 polymeric membrane nanocomposites for water remediation and wastewater treatment.
Surfaces Interfaces 43, 103578. doi:10.1016/j.surfin.2023.103578
Gupta, A. D., Rene, E. R., Giri, B. S., Pandey, A., and Singh, H. (2021). Adsorptive
and photocatalytic properties of metal oxides towards arsenic remediation from Khorram Abadi, V., Habibi, D., Heydari, S., and Ariannezhad, M. (2023). The
water: a review. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 9 (6), 106376. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2021. effective removal of Ni2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ from aqueous solution by adenine-based
106376 nano-adsorbent. RSC Adv. 13 (9), 5970–5982. doi:10.1039/D2RA07230K
Hasanzadeh, R., Moghadam, P. N., Bahri-Laleh, N., and Sillanpää, M. (2017). Kim, E. J., Lee, C. S., Chang, Y. Y., and Chang, Y. S. (2013). Hierarchically structured
Effective removal of toxic metal ions from aqueous solutions: 2-Bifunctional manganese oxide-coated magnetic nanocomposites for the efficient removal of heavy
magnetic nanocomposite base on novel reactive PGMA-MAn copolymer@ metal ions from aqueous systems. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 5 (19), 9628–9634. doi:10.
Fe3O4 nanoparticles. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 490, 727–746. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2016. 1021/am402615m
11.098
Kolluru, S. S., Agarwal, S., Sireesha, S., Sreedhar, I., and Kale, S. R. (2021). Heavy metal
Hasanzadeh, R., Najafi Moghadam, P., and Samadi, N. (2013). Synthesis and removal from wastewater using nanomaterials-process and engineering aspects. Process
application of modified poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) networks as a nano Saf. Environ. Prot. 150, 323–355. doi:10.1016/j.psep.2021.04.025
chelating resin for uptake of heavy metal ions. Polym. Adv. Technol. 24 (1), 34–41.
Kong, L., Liang, X., Zhan, Y., Jiao, S., Zhen, Y., Liu, M., et al. (2023). Efficient
doi:10.1002/pat.3046
adsorption of selenium (Se(IV) and Se(VI)) from water using Acacia Senegal
Huang, Q., Liu, M., Chen, J., Wan, Q., Tian, J., Huang, L., et al. (2017). Facile polysaccharide with multiple amine groups: synthesis and application. Int. J. Biol.
preparation of MoS 2 based polymer composites via mussel inspired chemistry and their Macromol. 253, 127458. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127458
high efficiency for removal of organic dyes. Appl. Surf. Sci. 419, 35–44. doi:10.1016/j.
Kong, Q., Shi, X., Ma, W., Zhang, F., Yu, T., Zhao, F., et al. (2021). Strategies to
apsusc.2017.05.006
improve the adsorption properties of graphene-based adsorbent towards heavy metal
Huang, Q., Liu, Y., Cai, T., and Xia, X. (2019). Simultaneous removal of heavy metal ions and their compound pollutants: a review. J. Hazard. Mater. 415, 125690. doi:10.
ions and organic pollutant by BiOBr/Ti 3 C 2 nanocomposite. J. Photochem. Photobiol. 1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125690
A Chem. 375, 201–208. doi:10.1016/j.jphotochem.2019.02.026
Kumar, A., and Kumar, V. (2023). A comprehensive review on application of
Iqbal, Z., Tanweer, M. S., and Alam, M. (2022). Recent advances in adsorptive lignocellulose derived nanomaterial in heavy metals removal from wastewater.
removal of wastewater pollutants by chemically modified metal oxides: a review. Chem. Afr. 6 (1), 39–78. doi:10.1007/s42250-022-00367-8
J. Water Process Eng. 46, 102641. doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.102641
Li, C., Yang, S., Bian, R., Tan, Y., Dong, X., Zhu, N., et al. (2021). Clinoptilolite
Islam, A., Teo, S. H., Taufiq-Yap, Y. H., Ng, C. H., Vo, D. V. N., Ibrahim, M. L., et al. mediated activation of peroxymonosulfate through spherical dispersion and oriented
(2021). Step towards the sustainable toxic dyes removal and recycling from aqueous array of NiFe2O4: upgrading synergy and performance. J. Hazard. Mater. 407, 124736.
solution- A comprehensive review. Resour. Conservation Recycl. 175, 105849. doi:10. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124736
1016/j.resconrec.2021.105849
Li, C., Yang, S., Bian, R., Tan, Y., Zhang, X., Zheng, S., et al. (2022). Efficient catalytic
Islam, M. S., Choi, W. S., Nam, B., Yoon, C., and Lee, H. J. (2017). Needle-like iron degradation of bisphenol A coordinated with peroxymonosulfate via anchoring
oxide@CaCO3 adsorbents for ultrafast removal of anionic and cationic heavy metal monodispersed zero-valent iron on natural kaolinite. Chem. Eng. J. 448, 137746.
ions. Chem. Eng. J. 307, 208–219. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2016.08.079 doi:10.1016/j.cej.2022.137746
Jain, H., Dhupper, R., Verma, A. K., and Garg, M. C. (2021). Development of titanium Li, N., Li, Z., Zhang, L., Shi, H., Li, J., Zhang, J., et al. (2020). One-step fabrication of
dioxide incorporated ultrathin cellulose acetate membrane for enhanced forward bifunctional self-assembled oligopeptides anchored magnetic carbon nanoparticles and
osmosis performance. Nanotechnol. Environ. Eng. 6, 67–68. doi:10.1007/s41204-021- their application in copper (II) ions removal from aqueous solutions. J. Hazard. Mater.
00161-w 382, 121113. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121113

Li, Y., He, J., Zhang, K., Liu, T., Hu, Y., Chen, X., et al. (2019). Super rapid removal of Najafi, M., Yousefi, Y., and Rafati, A. A. (2012). Synthesis, characterization and
copper, cadmium and lead ions from water by NTA-silica gel. RSC Adv. 9 (1), 397–407. adsorption studies of several heavy metal ions on amino-functionalized silica nano
doi:10.1039/C8RA08638A hollow sphere and silica gel. Sep. Purif. Technol. 85, 193–205. doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2011.
10.011
Li, Y. K., Yang, T., Chen, M. L., and Wang, J. H. (2021). Recent advances in
nanomaterials for analysis of trace heavy metals. Crit. Rev. Anal. Chem. 51 (4), Naseem, K., Begum, R., Wu, W., Usman, M., Irfan, A., Al-Sehemi, A. G., et al. (2019).
353–372. doi:10.1080/10408347.2020.1736505 Adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions using polystyrene-
poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide-acrylic acid) core/shell gel particles: adsorption
Liu, J., Yu, G., Jiang, P., Zhang, X., Meng, D., Chen, Z., et al. (2020). Interaction of Mn
isotherms and kinetic study. J. Mol. Liq. 277, 522–531. doi:10.1016/j.molliq.2018.12.054
and Cd during their uptake in Celosia argentea differs between hydroponic and soil
systems. Plant Soil 450 (1-2), 323–336. doi:10.1007/s11104-020-04514-3 Nassar, N. N. (2010). Rapid removal and recovery of Pb(II) from wastewater by
magnetic nanoadsorbents. J. Hazard. Mater. 184 (1-3), 538–546. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.
Liu, K., Yao, Y., Xue, S., Zhang, M., Li, D., Xu, T., et al. (2023). Recent advances of
2010.08.069
tumor microenvironment-responsive nanomedicines-energized combined
phototherapy of cancers. Pharmaceutics 15 (10), 2480. doi:10.3390/ Nithya, K., Sathish, A., Senthil Kumar, P., and Ramachandran, T. (2018). Fast kinetics
pharmaceutics15102480 and high adsorption capacity of green extract capped superparamagnetic iron oxide
nanoparticles for the adsorption of Ni(II) ions. J. Industrial Eng. Chem. 59, 230–241.
Liu, L., Li, A., Cao, M., Ma, J., Tan, W., Suib, S. L., et al. (2022). Photoinduced self-
doi:10.1016/j.jiec.2017.10.028
organized precipitation in leachate for remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.
ACS ES T Eng. 2 (8), 1376–1385. doi:10.1021/acsestengg.1c00483 Nithya, R., Thirunavukkarasu, A., Sathya, A. B., and Sivashankar, R. (2021). Magnetic
materials and magnetic separation of dyes from aqueous solutions: a review. Environ.
Liu, T., Wang, Z. L., Yan, X., and Zhang, B. (2014). Removal of mercury (II) and
Chem. Lett. 19 (2), 1275–1294. doi:10.1007/s10311-020-01149-9
chromium (VI) from wastewater using a new and effective composite: pumice-
supported nanoscale zero-valent iron. Chem. Eng. J. 245, 34–40. doi:10.1016/j.cej. Peralta, M. E., Mártire, D. O., Moreno, M. S., Parolo, M. E., and Carlos, L. (2021).
2014.02.011 Versatile nanoadsorbents based on magnetic mesostructured silica nanoparticles with
tailored surface properties for organic pollutants removal. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 9 (1),
Liu, Y., Deng, H., Lu, Z., Zhong, X., and Zhu, Y. (2021). The study of MnO2 with
104841. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2020.104841
different crystalline structures for U(VI) elimination from aqueous solution. J. Mol. Liq.
335, 116296. doi:10.1016/j.molliq.2021.116296 Qiu, Z., Chen, J., Dai, R., and Wang, Z. (2022). Modification of ultrafiltration
membrane with antibacterial agent intercalated layered nanosheets: toward superior
Liu, Y., Ma, J., Gao, J., Chen, X., Ouyang, X., Weng, L., et al. (2022). Stability and
antibiofouling performance for water treatment. Water Res. 219, 118539. doi:10.1016/j.
interaction of biochar and iron mineral nanoparticles: effect of pH, ionic strength, and
watres.2022.118539
dissolved organic matter. Biochar 4 (1), 47. doi:10.1007/s42773-022-00172-z
Rad, L. R., Momeni, A., Ghazani, B. F., Irani, M., Mahmoudi, M., and Noghreh, B.
Lu, F., and Astruc, D. (2018). Nanomaterials for removal of toxic elements from
(2014). Removal of Ni2+ and Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions using electrospun
water. Coord. Chem. Rev. 356, 147–164. doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2017.11.003
PVA/zeolite nanofibrous adsorbent. Chem. Eng. J. 256, 119–127. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2014.
Ma, Z., Zhao, D., Chang, Y., Xing, S., Wu, Y., and Gao, Y. (2013). Synthesis of 06.066
MnFe2O4@Mn-Co oxide core-shell nanoparticles and their excellent performance
Rangappa, H. S., Herath, I., Lin, C., and Ch, S. (2024). Industrial waste-based
for heavy metal removal. Dalton Trans. 42 (39), 14261–14267. doi:10.1039/
adsorbents as a new trend for removal of water-borne emerging contaminants.
c3dt51310f
Environ. Pollut. 343, 123140. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123140
Madkour, M., Nazer, H. A. E., and Abdel-Monem, Y. K. (2021). “Use of
Rani, A., Kumar, N., and Kumar, M. (2023). Environmentally friendly green
chalcogenides-based nanomaterials for photocatalytic heavy metal reduction and
approaches and applications of nanoparticles. in Metal oxide-based carbon
ions removal,” in Chalcogenide-based nanomaterials as photocatalysts, 261–283.
nanocomposites for environmental remediation and safety (Boca Raton: CRC Press),
Mahdavi Far, R., Van der Bruggen, B., Verliefde, A., and Cornelissen, E. (2022). A 21–63.
review of zeolite materials used in membranes for water purification: history,
Raza, A., Rehman, R., Batool, M., Jahangir, M. M., Ghfar, A. A., Pradhan, S., et al.
applications, challenges and future trends. J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol. 97 (3),
(2023). Adsorptive elimination of rhodamine B dye by synthetic clay-based hetero-
575–596. doi:10.1002/jctb.6963
metallic oxide nanocomposite KAB-ben for rapid wastewater treatment. Water, Air, Soil
Mallick, P., Gadtya, A. S., Tripathy, D., Satpathy, S. K., and Moharana, S. (2023). Pollut. 234 (10), 654. doi:10.1007/s11270-023-06589-x
“Carbon–metal hybrid nanomaterials for high technologies,” in Nanoparticles
Razman Shah, N. B. B., Sazali, R. A. B., Sorbie, K. S., and Azizi, A. (2023).
reinforced metal nanocomposites: mechanical performance and durability, 273–295.
Nanomaterials for scaling prevention in alkaline–surfactant–polymer flooding: a
Marotta, A., Luzzi, E., De Luna, M. S., Aprea, P., Ambrogi, V., and Filippone, G. review. Appl. Nanosci. Switz. 13 (6), 3945–3974. doi:10.1007/s13204-022-02652-x
(2021). Chitosan/zeolite composite aerogels for a fast and effective removal of both
Razzaz, A., Ghorban, S., Hosayni, L., Irani, M., and Aliabadi, M. (2016). Chitosan
anionic and cationic dyes from water. Polymers 13 (11), 1691. doi:10.3390/
nanofibers functionalized by TiO2 nanoparticles for the removal of heavy metal ions.
polym13111691
J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng. 58, 333–343. doi:10.1016/j.jtice.2015.06.003
Marwani, H. M., Ahmed, J., and Rahman, M. M. (2022). Development of a toxic lead
Recillas, S., Colón, J., Casals, E., González, E., Puntes, V., Sánchez, A., et al. (2010).
ionic sensor using carboxyl-functionalized MWCNTs in real water sample analyses.
Chromium VI adsorption on cerium oxide nanoparticles and morphology changes
Sensors 22 (22), 8976. doi:10.3390/s22228976
during the process. J. Hazard. Mater. 184 (1-3), 425–431. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.
Mautner, A., Maples, H. A., Kobkeatthawin, T., Kokol, V., Karim, Z., Li, K., et al. 08.052
(2016). Phosphorylated nanocellulose papers for copper adsorption from aqueous
Ren, T., He, P., Niu, W., Wu, Y., Ai, L., and Gou, X. (2013). Synthesis of α-Fe2O3
solutions. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 13 (8), 1861–1872. doi:10.1007/s13762-016-
nanofibers for applications in removal and recovery of Cr(VI) from wastewater.
1026-z
Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 20 (1), 155–162. doi:10.1007/s11356-012-0842-z
Mo, Z., Tai, D., Zhang, H., and Shahab, A. (2022). A comprehensive review on
Roostaee, M., Sheikhshoaie, I., and karimi maleh, H. (2022). Low-temperature
the adsorption of heavy metals by zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF-8) based
synthesis of hetero-structures of magnetically separable iron oxide@Au-rGO
nanocomposite in water. Chem. Eng. J. 443, 136320. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2022.
nanocomposite for efficient degradation of organic dye under visible light
136320
irradiation. Environ. Res. 205, 112510. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.112510
Morales, H. M., Torreblanca, G., Mar, A., Alcoutlabi, M., Eubanks, T. M., Plata, E.,
Rybarczyk, A., Szada, D., Badzińska, W., Degórska, O., Jesionowski, T., and
et al. (2023). Investigation of the thermodynamics for the removal of as(III) and as(V)
Zdarta, J. (2024). Nanobiocatalysts as efficient tools for wastewater pollutants
from water using synthesized ZnO nanoparticles and the effects of pH, temperature, and
remediation. Adv. Chem. Pollut. Environ. Manag. Prot. 10, 57–82. doi:10.1016/bs.
time. Appl. Sci. Switz. 13 (18), 10525. doi:10.3390/app131810525
apmp.2023.06.014
Morillo Martín, D., Faccini, M., García, M. A., and Amantia, D. (2018). Highly
Saad, A. H. A., Azzam, A. M., El-Wakeel, S. T., Mostafa, B. B., and Abd El-latif, M. B.
efficient removal of heavy metal ions from polluted water using ion-selective
(2018). Removal of toxic metal ions from wastewater using ZnO@Chitosan core-shell
polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 6 (1), 236–245. doi:10.1016/j.
nanocomposite. Environ. Nanotechnol. Monit. Manag. 9, 67–75. doi:10.1016/j.enmm.
jece.2017.11.073
2017.12.004
Moukadiri, H., Noukrati, H., Ben Youcef, H., Iraola, I., Trabadelo, V., Oukarroum, A.,
Sall, M. L., Diaw, A. K. D., Gningue-Sall, D., Efremova Aaron, S., and Aaron, J. J.
et al. (2024). Impact and toxicity of heavy metals on human health and latest trends in
(2020). Toxic heavy metals: impact on the environment and human health, and
removal process from aquatic media. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 21 (3), 3407–3444.
treatment with conducting organic polymers, a review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 27
doi:10.1007/s13762-023-05275-z
(24), 29927–29942. doi:10.1007/s11356-020-09354-3
Musso, T. B., Parolo, M. E., and Pettinari, G. (2019). pH, ionic strength, and
Sankareswaran, M., Periakaruppan, R., Sasivarnam, M., Danaraj, J., Dhanasekaran, S.,
ion competition effect on Cu(II) and Ni(II) sorption by a Na-bentonite used as
and Abomughaid, M. M. (2022). Bio-fabrication of bio-inspired silica nanomaterials
liner material. Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 28 (4), 2299–2309. doi:10.15244/pjoes/84922
from bryophyllum pinnatum leaf for agricultural applications. Appl. Biochem.
Muthukumaran, P., Suresh Babu, P., Shyamalagowri, S., Aravind, J., Kamaraj, M., and Biotechnol. 194 (9), 4266–4277. doi:10.1007/s12010-022-03996-4
Govarthanan, M. (2022). Polymeric biomolecules based nanomaterials: production
Shahamati Fard, F., Kazemi, H., Mighri, F., and Rodrigue, D. (2021). “Hybrid
strategies and pollutant mitigation as an emerging tool for environmental application.
nanocomposites based on cellulose nanocrystals/nanofibrils and carbon nanotubes:
Chemosphere 307, 136008. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136008

from preparation to applications,” in Cellulose nanocrystal/nanoparticles hybrid Tu, Y. J., You, C. F., Chen, M. H., and Duan, Y. P. (2017). Efficient removal/recovery
nanocomposites: from preparation to applications, 65–98. of Pb onto environmentally friendly fabricated copper ferrite nanoparticles. J. Taiwan
Inst. Chem. Eng. 71, 197–205. doi:10.1016/j.jtice.2016.12.006
Sharma, S. N., Kadri, U., and Naha, N. (2023). Impact of heavy metal-based
nanomaterials on environment and health: small things having big impacts. in Ukhurebor, K. E., Aigbe, U. O., Onyancha, R. B., Balogun, V. A., Anani, O. A., Adama,
Implications of nanoecotoxicology on environmental sustainability (Pennsylvania: IGI K. K., et al. (2023). “An overview of magnetic nanomaterials,” in Engineering materials
Global), 224–277. (Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH), 1–20.
Shen, H., Chen, J., Dai, H., Wang, L., Hu, M., and Xia, Q. (2013). New insights into the Umeh, C. T., Akinyele, A. B., Okoye, N. H., Emmanuel, S. S., Iwuozor, K. O.,
sorption and detoxification of chromium(VI) by tetraethylenepentamine functionalized Oyekunle, I. P., et al. (2023). Recent approach in the application of nanoadsorbents for
nanosized magnetic polymer adsorbents: mechanism and pH effect. Industrial Eng. malachite green (MG) dye uptake from contaminated water: a critical review. Environ.
Chem. Res. 52 (36), 12723–12732. doi:10.1021/ie4010805 Nanotechnol. Monit. Manag. 20, 100891. doi:10.1016/j.enmm.2023.100891
Shen, H., Pan, S., Zhang, Y., Huang, X., and Gong, H. (2012). A new insight on the Umejuru, E. C., Mashifana, T., Kandjou, V., Amani-Beni, M., Sadeghifar, H., Fayazi,
adsorption mechanism of amino-functionalized nano-Fe 3O 4 magnetic polymers in M., et al. (2023). Application of zeolite based nanocomposites for wastewater
Cu(II), Cr(VI) co-existing water system. Chem. Eng. J. 183, 180–191. doi:10.1016/j.cej. remediation: evaluating newer and environmentally benign approaches. Environ.
2011.12.055 Res. 231, 116073. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116073
Shi, T., Xie, Z., Mo, X., Shi, W., Qiu, H., Lan, G., et al. (2023). Adsorption behaviors of Vamvakidis, K., Kostitsi, T. M., Makridis, A., and Dendrinou-Samara, C. (2020).
heavy metal ions by different hydrazone-modified sodium alginate in aqueous medium: Diverse surface chemistry of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles to optimize copper (II) removal
experimental and DFT studies. Colloids Surfaces A Physicochem. Eng. Aspects 659, from aqueous media. Materials 13 (7), 1537. doi:10.3390/ma13071537
130754. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130754
Vinoth, S., and Wang, S. F. (2023). Construction of functionalized carbon nanotube@
Sikder, M. T., Mihara, Y., Islam, M. S., Saito, T., Tanaka, S., and Kurasaki, M. (2014). metal oxide nanocomposite for high-performance electrochemical measurement of
Preparation and characterization of chitosan–caboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin entrapped antipyretic drug in water samples. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. doi:10.1007/s11356-023-
nanozero-valent iron composite for Cu (II) and Cr (IV) removal from wastewater. 26043-z
Chem. Eng. J. 236, 378–387. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2013.09.093
Vishnu, D., Dhandapani, B., Kannappan Panchamoorthy, G., Vo, D. V. N., and
Sohail, I., Bhatti, I. A., Ashar, A., Sarim, F. M., Mohsin, M., Naveed, R., et al. (2020). Ramakrishnan, S. R. (2021). Comparison of surface-engineered superparamagnetic
Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers synthesis, characterization and adsorptive nanosorbents with low-cost adsorbents of cellulose, zeolites and biochar for the removal
removal of nickel ions from aqueous solution. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 9 (1), 498–506. of organic and inorganic pollutants: a review. Environ. Chem. Lett. 19 (4), 3181–3208.
doi:10.1016/j.jmrt.2019.10.079 doi:10.1007/s10311-021-01201-2
Sohail, M. I., Ayub, M. A., Zia Ur Rehman, M., Azhar, M., Farooqi, Z. U. R., Siddiqui, Wang, H. Q., Yang, G. F., Li, Q. Y., Zhong, X. X., Wang, F. P., Li, Z. S., et al. (2011).
A., et al. (2021). “Sufficiency and toxicity limits of metallic oxide nanoparticles in the Porous nano-MnO2: large scale synthesis via a facile quick-redox procedure and
biosphere,” in Nanomaterials: synthesis, characterization, hazards and safety, 145–221. application in a supercapacitor. New J. Chem. 35 (2), 469–475. doi:10.1039/c0nj00712a
Solanki, S., Sinha, S., Tyagi, S., and Singh, R. (2024). Nanomaterials for efficient Wang, J., Niu, K., Hou, J., Zhuang, Z., Zhu, J., Jing, X., et al. (2024). Advanced
removal of heavy metals. Adv. Chem. Pollut. Environ. Manag. Prot. 10, 117–136. doi:10. integration of glutathione-functionalized optical fiber SPR sensor for ultra-sensitive
1016/bs.apmp.2023.08.008 detection of lead ions. Materials 17 (1), 98. doi:10.3390/ma17010098
Sounthararajah, D. P., Loganathan, P., Kandasamy, J., and Vigneswaran, S. (2015). Wang, P., Shen, T., Li, X., Tang, Y., and Li, Y. (2020). Magnetic mesoporous calcium
Adsorptive removal of heavy metals from water using sodium titanate nanofibres loaded carbonate-based nanocomposites for the removal of toxic Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions from
onto GAC in fixed-bed columns. J. Hazard. Mater. 287, 306–316. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat. water. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 3 (2), 1272–1281. doi:10.1021/acsanm.9b02036
2015.01.067
Wang, W. D., Cui, Y. X., Zhang, L. K., Li, Y. M., Sun, P., and Han, J. H. (2021).
Sprynskyy, M., Buszewski, B., Terzyk, A. P., and Namieśnik, J. (2006). Study of the Synthesis of a novel ZnFe2O4/porous biochar magnetic composite for Th(IV)
selection mechanism of heavy metal (Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+) adsorption on adsorption in aqueous solutions. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 18 (9), 2733–2746.
clinoptilolite. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 304 (1), 21–28. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2006.07.068 doi:10.1007/s13762-020-03023-1
Suazo-Hernández, J., Sepúlveda, P., Cáceres-Jensen, L., Castro-Rojas, J., Poblete- Wang, X., Cai, W., Lin, Y., Wang, G., and Liang, C. (2010). Mass production of micro/
Grant, P., Bolan, N., et al. (2023). nZVI-based nanomaterials used for phosphate nanostructured porous ZnO plates and their strong structurally enhanced and selective
removal from aquatic systems. Nanomaterials 13 (3), 399. doi:10.3390/nano13030399 adsorption performance for environmental remediation. J. Mater. Chem. 20 (39),
8582–8590. doi:10.1039/c0jm01024c
Suhasini, R., and Thiagarajan, V. (2021). “Magnetic nanomaterials for wastewater
remediation,” in Nanomaterials for water treatment and remediation, 279–308. Wang, X., Liu, X., Xiao, C., Zhao, H., Zhang, M., Zheng, N., et al. (2020).
Triethylenetetramine-modified hollow Fe3O4/SiO2/chitosan magnetic
Sukmana, H., Bellahsen, N., Pantoja, F., and Hodur, C. (2021). Adsorption and
nanocomposites for removal of Cr(VI) ions with high adsorption capacity and rapid
coagulation in wastewater treatment - review. Prog. Agric. Eng. Sci. 17 (1), 49–68. doi:10.
rate. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 297, 110041. doi:10.1016/j.micromeso.2020.
1556/446.2021.00029
110041
Sun, W., Jiang, B., Wang, F., and Xu, N. (2015). Effect of carbon nanotubes on Cd(II)
Wang, Y., and Sun, H. (2021). Polymeric nanomaterials for efficient delivery of
adsorption by sediments. Chem. Eng. J. 264, 645–653. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2014.11.137
antimicrobial agents. Pharmaceutics 13 (12), 2108. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13122108
Suresh, R., and Rajendran, S. (2022). Surface modified carbon nanotubes for organic
Wu, Y., Pang, H., Liu, Y., Wang, X., Yu, S., Fu, D., et al. (2019). Environmental
pollutants’ removal. ACS Symp. Ser. 1425, 249–273. doi:10.1021/bk-2022-1425.ch011
remediation of heavy metal ions by novel-nanomaterials: a review. Environ. Pollut. 246,
Surti, P., Kailasa, S. K., and Mungray, A. K. (2023). Enhancement of electrode 608–620. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2018.12.076
properties using carbon dots functionalized magnetite nanoparticles for azo dye
Xia, J., Twinney, J., Marthi, R., and Ghahreman, A. (2023). Ultra-efficient and
decolorization in microbial fuel cell. Chemosphere 313, 137601. doi:10.1016/j.
selective recovery of Au(III) using magnetic Fe3S4/Fe7S8. Sep. Purif. Technol. 306,
chemosphere.2022.137601
122611. doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122611
Tao, Z., Zhou, Q., Zheng, T., Mo, F., and Ouyang, S. (2023). Iron oxide nanoparticles
Xiao, Z., Zhang, H., Xu, Y., Yuan, M., Jing, X., Huang, J., et al. (2017). Ultra-efficient
in the soil environment: adsorption, transformation, and environmental risk. J. Hazard.
removal of chromium from aqueous medium by biogenic iron based nanoparticles.
Mater. 459, 132107. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132107
Sep. Purif. Technol. 174, 466–473. doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2016.10.047
Targuma, S., Njobeh, P. B., and Ndungu, P. G. (2021). Current applications of
Xu, P., Zeng, G. M., Huang, D. L., Yan, M., Chen, M., Lai, C., et al. (2017). Fabrication
magnetic nanomaterials for extraction of mycotoxins, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals
of reduced glutathione functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic removal of
in food commodities. Molecules 26 (14), 4284. doi:10.3390/molecules26144284
Pb(II) from wastewater. J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng. 71, 165–173. doi:10.1016/j.jtice.
Thakur, A., and Kumar, A. (2023). Magnetic composites of biochar and its 2016.11.031
applications. In materials horizons: from Nature to nanomaterials. Part F1442,
Xu, Y., and Zhao, D. (2007). Reductive immobilization of chromate in water and soil
185–209. doi:10.1007/978-981-99-5239-7_9
using stabilized iron nanoparticles. Water Res. 41 (10), 2101–2108. doi:10.1016/j.watres.
Trofymchuk, I. M., Roik, N. V., and Belyakova, L. O. (2023). Cyclodextin-silica 2007.02.037
nanomaterials for aromatics removal from aqueous media: kinetic and equilibrium
Xu, Z., Zhang, Z., and Wang, X. (2023). Ecotoxicological effects of soil lithium on
studies. Appl. Nanosci. Switz. 13 (12), 7425–7443. doi:10.1007/s13204-023-02914-2
earthworm Eisenia fetida: lethality, bioaccumulation, biomarker responses, and
Trojanowicz, M. (2006). Analytical applications of carbon nanotubes: a review. TrAC histopathological changes. Environ. Pollut. 330, 121748. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121748
- Trends Anal. Chem. 25 (5), 480–489. doi:10.1016/j.trac.2005.11.008
Yamini, V., and Devi Rajeswari, V. (2023). Effective bio-mediated nanoparticles for
Tu, Y. J., Chan, T. S., Tu, H. W., Wang, S. L., You, C. F., and Chang, C. K. (2016). bioremediation of toxic metal ions from wastewater – a review. J. Environ. Nanotechnol.
Rapid and efficient removal/recovery of molybdenum onto ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles. 12 (2), 12–33. doi:10.13074/jent.2023.06.232467
Chemosphere 148, 452–458. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.01.054
Yamini, V., Shanmugam, V., Rameshpathy, M., Venkatraman, G., Ramanathan, G.,
Tu, Y. J., You, C. F., and Chang, C. K. (2013). Conversion of waste Mn–Zn dry battery Al Garalleh, H., et al. (2023). Environmental effects and interaction of nanoparticles on
as efficient nano-adsorbents for hazardous metals removal. J. Hazard. Mater. 258, beneficial soil and aquatic microorganisms. Environ. Res. 236, 116776. doi:10.1016/j.
102–108. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.04.029 envres.2023.116776

Yang, F., and Yang, P. (2022). Biopolymer-based membrane adsorber for removing PGPR inoculation. Bioremediation J. 24 (2-3), 171–189. doi:10.1080/10889868.2020.
contaminants from aqueous solution: progress and prospects. Macromol. Rapid 1799929
Commun. 43 (3), e2100669. doi:10.1002/marc.202100669
Zeng, T., Yu, Y., Li, Z., Zuo, J., Kuai, Z., Jin, Y., et al. (2019). 3D MnO2 nanotubes@
Yang, G., Kong, H., Chen, Y., Liu, B., Zhu, D., Guo, L., et al. (2022). Recent advances in reduced graphene oxide hydrogel as reusable adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal
the hybridization of cellulose and carbon nanomaterials: interactions, structural design, ions. Mater. Chem. Phys. 231, 105–108. doi:10.1016/j.matchemphys.2019.04.019
functional tailoring, and applications. Carbohydr. Polym. 279, 118947. doi:10.1016/j.
Zhan, W. Y., Liu, G. S., and Zhong, H. (2021). Stability of nC60 nanoparticles in the
carbpol.2021.118947
presence of kaolinite and montmorillonite. Zhongguo Huanjing Kexue/China Environ.
Yang, J., Hou, B., Wang, J., Tian, B., Bi, J., Wang, N., et al. (2019). Nanomaterials for Sci. 41 (3), 1366–1377. doi:10.0000/j.zghjkx.1000-6923.20214117452
the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Nanomaterials 9 (3), 424. doi:10.3390/
Zhang, D., Tang, H., Zhao, B., Liu, L., Pang, H., Wang, X., et al. (2023). Immobilization of
nano9030424
uranium by S-NZVI and UiO-66-NO2 composite through combined adsorption and
Yang, Z., Chen, X., Li, S., Ma, W., Li, Y., He, Z., et al. (2020). Effective removal of reduction. J. Clean. Prod. 390, 136149. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136149
Cr(VI) from aqueous solution based on APTES modified nanoporous silicon prepared
Zhang, H., Dong, X., and Yang, H. (2023). Montmorillonite-mediated electron distribution
from kerf loss silicon waste. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 27 (10), 10899–10909. doi:10.1007/
of zirconium phosphate for accelerating remediation of cadmium-contaminated water and
s11356-019-07427-6
soil. Appl. Clay Sci. 236, 106883. doi:10.1016/j.clay.2023.106883
Yaseen, M., Farooq, M. U., Ahmad, W., and Subhan, F. (2021). Fabrication of rGO-
Zhang, H., Tan, X., Qiu, T., Zhou, L., Li, R., and Deng, Z. (2019). A novel and
CuO and/or Ag2O nanoparticles incorporated polyvinyl acetate based mixed matrix
biocompatible Fe3O4 loaded chitosan polyelectrolyte nanoparticles for the removal of
membranes for the removal of Cr6+from anti-corrosive paint industrial wastewater.
Cd2+ ion. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 141, 1165–1174. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.09.040
J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 9 (2), 105151. doi:10.1016/j.jece.2021.105151
Zhang, J., Li, T., Li, X., Liu, Y., Li, N., Wang, Y., et al. (2021). A key role of inner-
Yu, G., Wang, X., Liu, J., Jiang, P., You, S., Ding, N., et al. (2021). Applications of
cation-π interaction in adsorption of Pb(II) on carbon nanotubes: experimental and
nanomaterials for heavy metal removal from water and soil: a review. Sustainability 13
DFT studies. J. Hazard. Mater. 412, 125187. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125187
(2), 713. doi:10.3390/su13020713
Zhang, K., Song, X., Liu, M., Chen, M., Li, J., and Han, J. (2023). Review on the use of
Yu, L., Wang, Z., and Wang, D. G. (2023). Factors affecting the toxicity and oxidative
magnetic nanoparticles in the detection of environmental pollutants. WaterSwitzerl. 15
stress of layered double hydroxide-based nanomaterials in freshwater algae. Environ.
(17), 3077. doi:10.3390/w15173077
Sci. Pollut. Res. 30 (22), 63109–63120. doi:10.1007/s11356-023-26522-3
Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., Kang, Z. W., Gao, X., Zeng, X., Liu, M., et al. (2021). Waste eggshell
Yuan, X., An, N., Zhu, Z., Sun, H., Zheng, J., Jia, M., et al. (2018). Hierarchically
membrane-assisted synthesis of magnetic CuFe2O4 nanomaterials with multifunctional
porous nitrogen-doped carbon materials as efficient adsorbents for removal of heavy
properties (adsorptive, catalytic, antibacterial) for water remediation. Colloids Surfaces A
metal ions. Process Saf. Environ. Prot. 119, 320–329. doi:10.1016/j.psep.2018.08.012
Physicochem. Eng. Aspects 612, 125874. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.125874
Yurekli, Y. (2016). Removal of heavy metals in wastewater by using zeolite nano-
Zhang, Y., Xu, H., Ma, S., Chen, M., Tian, L., Gou, G., et al. (2022). A research on the
particles impregnated polysulfone membranes. J. Hazard. Mater. 309, 53–64. doi:10.
removal characteristics of naphthol Green B from wastewater using nanomaterials
1016/j.jhazmat.2016.01.064
nZVI/CS/APT. Phys. Chem. Liq. 60 (2), 219–232. doi:10.1080/00319104.2021.1939344
Yusuf, M. (2021). Cellulose-based nanomaterials for water pollutant remediation:
Zhao, B., Wu, D., Hou, H., Liu, L., Wang, X., Yao, W., et al. (2024). Functionalized zeolite
review. Handb. Nanomater. Nanocomposites Energy Environ. Appl. 1, 213–228. doi:10.
imidazolium framework materials for uranium removal performance and mechanism
1007/978-3-030-36268-3_17
research. J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng. 156, 105387. doi:10.1016/j.jtice.2024.105387
Zaman, H., Shah, AUHA, Ali, N., Zhou, C., Khan, A., Ali, F., et al. (2022).
Zhao, C., Zhou, J., Yan, Y., Yang, L., Xing, G., Li, H., et al. (2021). Application of
Magnetically recoverable poly (methyl methacrylate-acrylic acid)/iron oxide
coagulation/flocculation in oily wastewater treatment: a review. Sci. Total Environ. 765,
magnetic composites nanomaterials with hydrophilic wettability for efficient oil-
142795. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142795
water separation. J. Environ. Manag. 319, 115690. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115690
Zhou, Y., Li, Y., Liu, D., Liu, D., Xu, L., and Liu, C. (2021). Adsorption optimization of
Zambare, R. S., and Nemade, P. R. (2021). “Polymer nanocomposite membranes for
uranium(VI) onto polydopamine and sodium titanate co-functionalized MWCNTs
wastewater treatment,” in Handbook of nanomaterials for wastewater treatment:
using response surface methodology and a modeling approach. Colloids Surfaces A
fundamentals and scale up issues, 605–672.
Physicochem. Eng. Aspects 627, 127145. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.127145
Zamora-Ledezma, C., Negrete-Bolagay, D., Figueroa, F., Zamora-Ledezma, E., Ni, M.,
Zhou, Y., Xue, C., Gan, L., Owens, G., and Chen, Z. (2023). Simultaneous removal of
Alexis, F., et al. (2021). Heavy metal water pollution: a fresh look about hazards, novel
triclosan and Cd(Ⅱ) by bio-reduced graphene oxide and its mechanism. Chemosphere
and conventional remediation methods. Environ. Technol. Innovation 22, 101504.
311, 137021. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137021
doi:10.1016/j.eti.2021.101504
Zhu, X., Song, T., Lv, Z., and Ji, G. (2016). High-efficiency and low-cost α-Fe2O3
Zand, A. D., Mikaeili Tabrizi, A., and Vaezi Heir, A. (2020). Application of titanium
nanoparticles-coated volcanic rock for Cd(II) removal from wastewater. Process Saf.
dioxide nanoparticles to promote phytoremediation of Cd-polluted soil: contribution of
Environ. Prot. 104, 373–381. doi:10.1016/j.psep.2016.09.019

fenvs-12-1393694

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

fenvs-12-1393694

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

fenvs-12-1393694

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TYPE Review

PUBLISHED 06 May 2024

Nano-revolution in heavy metal

REVIEWED BY Arun Karnwal 1* and Tabarak Malik 2*

adsorption, engineered nanomaterials, functionalization, heavy metal removal,

Frontiers in Environmental Science 01 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 02 frontiersin.org

Mechanism Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples of

• Wide range of applicable materials • May not be speciﬁc to target • Biochar

• Relatively simple process • May generate secondary • Sulﬁde precipitation

• Speciﬁcity to certain metals • Fungi (e.g., Aspergillus)

• In-situ remediation possible • May impact organism • Yeast (e.g.,

Frontiers in Environmental Science 03 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 04 frontiersin.org

Factors like pH, temperature, and initial metal concentration

Imagine tiny sieves selectively ﬁltering out metal ions while

Frontiers in Environmental Science 05 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 06 frontiersin.org

Approach Nanomaterial used Mechanism of Advantages Disadvantages Examples

- Cost-effective - Regeneration of spent

Nano- - Nanoparticles used to enhance - Facilitation of - Cost-effective -Potential for - Phytoremediation of

Frontiers in Environmental Science 07 frontiersin.org

Karnwal and Malik

Parameter Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples

Frontiers in Environmental Science 09 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 10 frontiersin.org

Property Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples

Frontiers in Environmental Science 11 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 12 frontiersin.org

Nanomaterial Mechanism of Metal Advantages Disadvantages Examples Current status

Frontiers in Environmental Science 13 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 14 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 15 frontiersin.org

Metal Oxide/ Mechanism Metal Advantages Disadvantages Examples Cost Maturity

Frontiers in Environmental Science 16 frontiersin.org

4.3 Adsorbent dosage impact

Frontiers in Environmental Science 17 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 18 frontiersin.org

Category Potential Explanation Example Research needs

Frontiers in Environmental Science 19 frontiersin.org

Despite the challenges, nanotechnology holds immense potential Funding

Frontiers in Environmental Science 20 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 21 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 22 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 23 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 24 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 25 frontiersin.org

Frontiers in Environmental Science 26 frontiersin.org

You might also like