Abstract

Currently, environmental nanotechnology is an important method for pollutant removal from the environment because of its ability to degrade toxic organic pollutants, dechlorinate chlorinated organic compounds, deactivate bacteria, and transform toxic heavy metals to nontoxic forms. Consequently, many environmental cleanup technologies that utilize several types of nanomaterials in removing several types of toxic chemicals for applications in wastewater treatment, drinking water treatment, and contaminated land and groundwater remediation have been proposed or developed. This entry reviews the significance of nanotechnology in environmental management. In addition, the latest nanomaterials, including nano-semiconductor catalysts (TiO₂, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, CdS, and ZnS), zero-valent iron nanoparticles, and noble nanoparticles, such as silver or gold nanoparticles, are reviewed, and their mechanisms in toxic pollutant removal and their potential applications for environmental abatement are demonstrated.