Functionalized carbon nanomaterials for wastewater treatment

The pollution of water resources caused by heavy metal ions has become one of the most critical environmental issues nowadays. Recently, carbon nanomaterials have attracted immense attention as superior adsorbents for removal of heavy metal from waste effluents due to their unique structural properties and outstanding performances. Nevertheless, there are some drawbacks which hampered the use of pristine carbon nanomaterials in many applications, particularly their low solubility and dispersability. Numerous researchers have developed various surface modifications of carbon nanomaterial techniques in order to enhance its solubility, stabilities, and efficiencies. In this chapter, a comprehensive review of functionalized carbon nanomaterials, mainly carbon nanotubes and graphene-based materials, for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater are addressed. Lastly, challenges and future opportunities of functionalized carbon nanomaterials for the wastewater treatment applications are also included.