Application of carbon nanotube technology for removal of contaminants in drinking water: A review

Carbon nanotube (CNT) adsorption technology has the potential to support point of use (POU) based treatment approach for removal of bacterial pathogens, natural organic matter (NOM), and cyanobacterial toxins from water systems. Unlike many microporous adsorbents, CNTs possess fibrous shape with hig...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2009-12, Vol.408 (1), p.1-13
Main Authors: Upadhyayula, Venkata K.K., Deng, Shuguang, Mitchell, Martha C., Smith, Geoffrey B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorbents
Adsorption
Applied sciences
Bacteria
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Biological contaminants
carbon
carbon nanotube filters
Carbon nanotubes
Contaminants
cyanobacterial toxins
decontamination
Drinking water
Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination
Exact sciences and technology
filters
Filtration
literature reviews
microcystins
nanotechnology
Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry
organic matter
Pathogens
Point of use treatment
pollutants
Pollution
Surface chemistry
Toxins
Water Pollutants - chemistry
Water Pollutants - isolation & purification
Water Pollutants - toxicity
Water Purification - economics
Water Purification - methods
Water Purification - standards
Water Supply
Water treatment
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Carbon nanotube (CNT) adsorption technology has the potential to support point of use (POU) based treatment approach for removal of bacterial pathogens, natural organic matter (NOM), and cyanobacterial toxins from water systems. Unlike many microporous adsorbents, CNTs possess fibrous shape with high aspect ratio, large accessible external surface area, and well developed mesopores, all contribute to the superior removal capacities of these macromolecular biomolecules and microorganisms. This article provides a comprehensive review on application of CNTs as adsorbent media to concentrate and remove pathogens, NOM, and cyanobacterial (microcystin derivatives) toxins from water systems. The paper also surveys on consideration of CNT based adsorption filters for removal of these contaminants from cost, operational and safety standpoint. Based on the studied literature it appears that POU based CNT technology looks promising, that can possibly avoid difficulties of treating biological contaminants in conventional water treatment plants, and thereby remove the burden of maintaining the biostability of treated water in the distribution systems.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.09.027