Review of catalytic activities of biosynthesized metallic nanoparticles in wastewater treatment

ABSTRACT

Biologically synthesized metallic nanoparticles for catalytic activities in wastewater treatment applications is regarded as a safer alternative to usual physical and chemical methods due to their cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness and easy handling. Recently, research into nanotechnological applications of catalytic and wastewater treatment processes has increased exponentially because of its numerous benefits. This work reviews and summarizes several articles published from 2014 till now concerning biosynthesized nanoparticles and their applications in treating pollutants from wastewater. This review shows that biosynthesized nanoparticles using plant, algae and fungi, microorganisms, enzymes and other biomaterials and polymers have been efficient in removing heavy metals, pathogenic bacteria and organic pollutants, such as dyes, from synthetic wastewaters. This review looks in further detail at significant contributions of biosynthesized nanoparticles in treating pollutants from real wastewater samples, establishing their potency in large-scale real wastewater treatment plants. Comparatively, it is demonstrated that biosynthesized nanoparticles are very promising candidates to treat various contaminants found in wastewater than chemically synthesized nanoparticles, due to smaller sizes in general, good stability, high surface area charge and better photoluminescence emission properties of biosynthesized nanoparticles. Further discussed are the future opportunities of these biosynthesized nanoparticles in contaminant removal. Overall, this review aims to project a rapid developmental path showing a broad overview of recent nanobiotechnologies, applications, and prospects for researchers in nanotechnological fields in wastewater treatment.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Biosynthesis
• metallic nanoparticles
• wastewater treatment
• photocatalyst
• biomaterials

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to appreciate the kind comments and advice from the anonymous reviewers.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alex Kwasi Saim

Alex Kwasi Saim holds a BSc in Minerals Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana (2019). His research interests include biotechnological applications in minerals extraction, water and wastewater management, phytoremediation, agromining, phyto-nanotechnology and hydrometallurgy/flotation. He is a graduate member of the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM).

Philip Clinton Offei Adu

Philip Clinton Offei Adu holds a BSc (Hons) in Minerals Engineering from the University of Mines and Technology. His interest is in microbial technology, nanotechnology and extractive metallurgy. He is also an associate of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).

Richard Kwasi Amankwah

Richard Kwasi Amankwah is a professor of Minerals Engineering from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, Ghana. He holds a PhD degree in Mining Engineering from Queen’s University, Canada, and MPhil and BSc in Metallurgical Engineering, both from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. His research interests include gold beneficiation, water quality management, microwave processing of minerals, small-scale mining, medical geology, microbial mineral recovery and environmental biotechnology. He is a Fellow of the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM), a member of the Ghana Institute of Engineers (GhIE) and Society for Mining and Exploration Engineers.

Millicent Nkrumah Oppong

Millicent Nkrumah Oppong holds a BSc. in Mining Engineering at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana (2019). Her research interests include Mine Water, Drill and Blast, Mine planning and design, Soil and rock mechanics and Mine machines. She is a graduate member of the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM).

Francis Kwaku Darteh

Francis Kwaku Darteh is currently a Teaching assistant at University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa. He holds a BSc in Minerals Engineering from University of Mines and Technology, UMaT-Tarkwa, Ghana. His research interest includes recovery of precious metals and extractive metallurgy, biotechnology and bioremediation techniques. He is a member of Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Engineers (SME).

Abdul Wasiu Mamudu

Mamudu Abdul Wasiu is a graduate metallurgist from the University of Mines and Technology, UMaT – Tarkwa, Ghana and he is currently serving as a research assistant at the Minerals Engineering department. His research interests include mineral beneficiation, water treatment, separation processes and biotechnology.