Applications of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials in Bioremediation for Environmental Safety: An Overview

Abstract

The impact of human activities on the environment and ecosystems is constantly and dangerously growing due to the increase in global population and the ensuing use of primary resources and waste generation. An important issue affecting our globe currently that cannot be ignored is environmental pollution caused by human activity. The development of new eco-friendly, sustainable, and financially sound methods to clean up the polluted environment is one of the most difficult challenges of the twenty-first century. Nanoparticles (NPs) have distinctive features, such as catalytic capacity, ease of operation, possibility to chemically modify their properties, reactivity, and high surface area. Nanotechnologies and nanomaterials (NMs) hold potential for the development of sustainable, cutting-edge, creative products and methods for environmental bioremediation. Filtration, absorption, photocatalysis, chemical reactions and adsorption are some methods that are commonly used in environmental remediation to remove contaminants from various environmental media like air, soil and water. The most current advancements in environmental recovery tactics for contaminated areas using nanoparticles in conjunction with bioremediation methods are covered in this review. It is discussed how these nanoparticles can be used to remove various environmental pollutants, including heavy metals, halogenated herbicides, dyes, volatile organic compounds, organophosphorus compounds, and chlorinated organic chemicals. To promote the most recent research on and innovation in sustainable techniques in the field of environmental bio-remediation, special attention is paid to eco-friendly and regenerable nano-solutions and their safe-by-design qualities.