Polymeric Hydrogels—A Promising Platform in Enhancing Water Security for a Sustainable Future

Abstract

Abstract Although water is essential for global health and the socio‐economic development of modern society, providing fresh water universally in a sustainable and affordable manner, for both developing and industrialized communities, is challenging. Polymeric hydrogels have recently drawn increasing interest as promising material platforms to sustainably enhance global water security. This review aims to provide a consolidated overview of polymeric hydrogels as an enabling agent in various water treatment technologies. First, a summary of the different approaches for the preparation of hydrogels with tailored chemistry, morphology, structure, and functions that enable the multifaceted requirements of different water technologies to be met is presented. Then, a set of properties unique to hydrogels, which gives them competitive advantages compared to other materials in the context of water treatment, is presented and discussed. This is followed by a comprehensive review of the applications of hydrogels in different water technologies. Their performance is correlated to their unique properties in order to gain an in‐depth mechanistic understanding of how hydrogels can lead to impressive performance and technological innovation. The authors conclude with some proposed solutions and recommendations for prospective research directions to address the remaining challenges specific to each hydrogel‐enabled water technology.

Keywords

• atmospheric water harvesting
• decentralized water treatment
• decontamination
• desalination
• disinfection
• oil–water separation