Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers in Water Purification

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Water purification is a main process of removing undesirable materials, chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids and gases from contaminated water. The main aim is to produce water fit for a specific purpose. Most water is disinfected for human consumption (drinking water), but water purification may also be designed for a variety of other purposes, including fulfilling the requirements of medical, pharmacological, chemical and industrial applications.

Substances that are removed during the process include parasites (such as Giardia or Cryptosporidium), bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi, minerals (including toxic metals such as Lead, Copper etc.), and man-made chemical pollutants. Many contaminants can be dangerous—but depending on the quality standards, others are removed to improve the water's smell, taste, and appearance.

Actually there are several methods for purification of water. Methods to remove these elements range from simple and inexpensive to elaborate and costly. Scientist have found a new way to counter the problem of polluted drinking water. Using nanoparticles they can remove traces of pesticides and industrial chemicals from water supplies before it’s poured into our glasses.

In the area of water purification, nanotechnology offers the possibility of an efficient removal of pollutants and germs. Today nanoparticles, nanomembrane and nanopowder used for detection and removal of chemical and biological substances include metals (e.g. Cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc), nutrients (e.g. Phosphate, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite), cyanide, organics, algae (e.g. cyanobacterial toxins) viruses, bacteria, parasites and antibiotics. Basically four classes of nanoscale materials that are being evaluated as functional materials for water purification e.g. metal-containing nanoparticles, carbonaceous nanomaterials, zeolites and dendrimers. Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers are two important materals in the last decade. Nanomaterials reveal better results than other techniques used in water treatment because of their high surface area (surface/volume ratio). It is suggested that these may be used in future at large scale water purification. It is also found that the coliform bacteria treated with ultrasonic irradiation for short time period before Ag-nanoparticle treatment at low concentration, enhanced antibacterial effect. In future, combination of both may be the best option for treatment of waste water.

To sum up, it is obvious that carbon nanotube and nanofibers will be one of the most popular nanoparticles in water purification process in near future.

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