Polymer-grafted materials as surface-engineered adsorbents for water purification

Abstract

This review aims to explore recent advancements in polymer-grafted materials that have emerged as effective adsorbents for the removal of contaminants from wastewater. The most significant environmental issues affecting public health are the presence of dyes, heavy metals, and metalloids in wastewater discharged by various industries. Unfortunately, traditional techniques for treating wastewater are incapable of removing dyes and heavy metals. Due to enhanced capabilities, larger surface areas, greater stability, adjustable properties, and cost-effectiveness, polymer-grafted nanomaterials (PGNs) have attracted the attention of researchers for water purification. Surface engineering of materials with the use of polymers improves greatly their colloidal stability and pollutant adsorption capacity. This study investigates different parameters such as adsorption capacity, pH, and duration in recently reported papers where polymer-grafted adsorbents are developed. The review concludes by offering an overview of recent advancements in the field and proposing potential avenues for future research on related topics.

Keywords

• Polymer grafting
• Nanomaterials
• Pollutants
• Adsorption
• Dyes
• Heavy metals