title: Supported and unsupported nanomaterials for water and soil remediation: are they a useful solution for worldwide pollution?
abstract: Remediation technologies for wastes generated by industrial processes include coagulation, reverse osmosis, electrochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, advanced oxidation processes, and biological methods, among others. Adsorption onto activated carbon, sewage sludge, zeolites, chitosan, silica, and agricultural wastes has shown potential for pollutants' removal from aqueous media. Recently, nanoscale systems [nanoparticles (NPs) supported on different inorganic adsorbents] have shown additional benefits for the removal/degradation of several contaminants. According to the literature, NPs enhance the adsorption capacity of adsorbent materials and facilitate degradation of pollutants through redox reactions. In this review we analyzed relevant literature from 2011 to 2013, dealing with water and soil remediation by nanomaterials (NMs), either unsupported or supported upon inorganic adsorbents. Despite the outstanding reported results for some NMs, the analysis of the literature makes clear the necessity of more studies. There is lack of information about NMs regeneration and reusability, their large-scale application, and their efficiency in actual industrial wastewaters and contaminated soils. Additionally, little is known about NMs' life cycle, release of metal ions, disposal of pollutant loaded NMs, and their impacts on different ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trujillo-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Peralta-Videa
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: jgardea@utep.edu.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gardea-Torresdey
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Adsorbents; Ecosystems; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Remediation