Water Purification Using Nanotechnology an Emerging Opportunities

The most important component for living beings on the earth is access to clean and safe drinking water. Globally, water scarcity is pervasive even in water rich areas as immense pressure has been created by the burgeoning human population, industrialization, civilization, environmental changes and agricultural activities. The problem of access to safe water is inevitable and requires tremendous research. Nanotechnology has many successful applications in different fields but recently its application for water and wastewater treatment has emerged as a fast developing, promising area. This chapter highlights the recent advances on the development of nanoscale materials and processes for treatment of surface water, groundwater and industrial wastewater that are contaminated by toxic metals, organic and inorganic compounds, bacteria and viruses. In addition, the toxic potential of engineered nanomaterials for human health and the environment will also be discussed. This chapter also deals with the fate and transport of engineered nanomaterials in water and wastewater treatment systems along with the risks associated with nanomaterials.