Nanoclays as Eco-friendly Adsorbents of Arsenic for Water Purification

BAIGORRIA, ESTEFANIA; CANO, L.A.; ALVAREZ, VERA A.

Handbook of Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

SPRINGER

Año: 2020;

The presence of arsenic (As) in water intended for human consumption andwastewater represents a high level of dangerousness for both human health andthe environment. Partial or complete removal of this metalloid from water is animportant objective for environmental remediation in many parts of the world.Generally, As is present as As(III) and As(V) in water; the As(III) species is moreharmful to humans.The use of original and modified nanoclays is a promising new technology forelimination of all traces of As by adsorption. Nanoclays display importantcharacteristics that make them a viable methodological alternative for adsorptionof polluting metals. They are abundant in nature and inexpensive, have highbiocompatibility, and can be reused. Strategic functionalization of nanoclaysallows optimization of the process of absorption of some polluting metals becausemodifications of the original clays allow control of their composition and changeseveral parameters ? such as the surface area, interlaminar space and volume, andporosity ? that are responsible for the adsorption and desorption properties of theclays.This aim of this chapter is to review current developments in the use of originaland functionalized nanoclays for removal of As by adsorption processes. Theoutlook and future prospects for this methodology are also discussed.