Adsorption Potential of Nanocomposites for the Removal of Toxins in Healthcare

Abstract

Industrial wastewater is one of the by-products of several industries, and it consists of water that requires treatment before it is discharged into water bodies. The presence of toxins in wastewater, such as dyes and heavy metals, is hazardous to human health and requires effective removal to reduce environmental pollution. Industrial wastewater treatment has become a global concern in healthcare and the environment leading to the development of various technologies for the removal of toxins from wastewater. Various processes and technologies, such as advanced oxidation processes, adsorption and membrane technology, show potential in treating industrial wastewater. Another source of toxins in the form of pesticides is harmful to human health, leading to severe health problems. Nanocomposites show potential as efficient adsorbents for the removal of toxins owing to the enhanced adsorption capacity, promising physicochemical properties and high surfaceto- volume ratio due to nanoscale dimension. Nanocomposites are cost-effective and efficient nanoadsorbents for the removal of various toxins. This review focuses on the potential applications of nanocomposites as adsorbents for the removal of toxins like dyes, heavy metals and pesticides from wastewater and biological systems. The use of nanocomposites as efficient adsorbents in the removal of toxins, various isotherm models, and adsorption kinetics applied in the mechanism of adsorption is also discussed in the article. In the near future, nanocomposites may provide a simple, economic and efficient adsorption system for the removal of toxins from wastewater and biological systems.