Environmental applications and risks of engineered nanomaterials in removing petroleum oil in soil

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-10, Vol.946, p.174165, Article 174165
• Main Authors: Gao, Yang, Zhou, Letao, Ouyang, Shaohu, Sun, Jing, Zhou, Qixing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Engineered nanomaterials; Environmental applications; Environmental risks; Petroleum oil contamination; Removing mechanism
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174165

Oil-contaminated soil posed serious threats to the ecosystems and human health. The unique and tunable properties of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) enable new technologies for removing and repairing oil-contaminated soil. However, few studies systematically examined the linkage between the change of physicochemical properties and the removal efficiency and environmental functions (e.g., potential risk) of ENMs, which is vital for understanding the ENMs environmental sustainability and utilization as a safety product. Thus, this review briefly summarized the environmental applications of ENMs to removing petroleum oil from complex soil systems: Theoretical and practical fundamentals (e.g., excellent physicochemical properties, environmental stability, controlled release, and recycling technologies), and various ENMs (e.g., iron-based, carbon-based, and metal oxides nanomaterials) remediation case studies. Afterward, this review highlights the removing mechanism (e.g., adsorption, photocatalysis, oxidation/reduction, biodegradation) and the impact factor (e.g., nanomaterials species, natural organic matter, and soil matrix) of ENMs during the remediation process in soil ecosystems. Both positive and negative effects of ENMs on terrestrial organisms have been identified, which are mainly derived from their diverse physicochemical properties. In linking nanotechnology applications for repairing oil-contaminated soil back to the physical and chemical properties of ENMs, this critical review aims to raise the research attention on using ENMs as a fundamental guide or even tool to advance soil treatment technologies. SYNOPSIS: The environmental sustainability of engineered nanomaterials in the soil environment. [Display omitted] •Summarizing the application, removing mechanism, impact factor, and environmental sustainability of nanomaterials•Evaluating the environmental risk of nanomaterials in removing petroleum hydrocarbons•Reasonable release and recycling of engineered nanoparticles are needed in soil remediation.•Raising the research attention on using ENMs as a fundamental guide and tool to advance soil treatment technologies