Clay-Based Nanocomposite Materials Used in Treatment of Wastewater: Recent Advancements, Cost Investigation and Future Perspectives

ABSTRACT

Urbanization, extensive agricultural activity, increasing industrialization, and populations can contaminate fresh water channels. Therefore, various materials like mineral clay, modified clays, activated carbon, zeolites, and polymeric resins, have been studied as adsorbents for pollutant removal. Nano-clay has gained attention due to its unique properties. This review evaluates recent developments in clay-based nanocomposite systems for pollutant removal, focusing on clay-carbon, clay-polymer, and clay/metallic composites. It discusses their advantages over traditional methods, including enhanced processing, rapid decontamination, selectivity, larger surface area, and cost-effectiveness, with a detailed cost analysis. Additionally, the adsorption mechanism, challenges, and future possibilities were also studied to optimize the efficiency of nanomaterial adsorbent. The review also shows the current trend of research based on clay-based nanocomposites used for wastewater treatment within the 2017–2024 space of time.

KEYWORDS:

• Nano-clays
• metallic oxide/clay
• clay-polymer
• mechanism
• cost analysis

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors wish to thank their parental institutes for providing the necessary facilities to accomplish the present research work.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

All authors have read and approved this manuscript.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT

Ayesha Naseer and Fazila Younas: Conceptualization, Writing-original draft, Visualization, Review and Editing. Ruba Munir: Writing-Reviewing and Editing, Investigation, Conceptualization, Muhammad Fahad Sardar: Investigation, Writing Review and Editing. Saima Noreen and Zhaojie Cui: Supervision, Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Reviewing and Editing.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Technology and Equipment for High Efficient Utilization of Mine Water Resources in Nansi Lake Basin [2023CXGC010904].