Application of carbon nanotube technology for removal of contaminants in drinking water: A review

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 408; no. 1; pp. 1 - 13
• Main Authors: Upadhyayula, Venkata K.K., Deng, Shuguang, Mitchell, Martha C., Smith, Geoffrey B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15.12.2009; [Amsterdam; New York]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Applied sciences; Bacteria; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Biological contaminants; carbon; carbon nanotube filters; Carbon nanotubes; chemistry; Contaminants; cyanobacterial toxins; decontamination; Drinking water; Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination; economics; Exact sciences and technology; filters; Filtration; isolation & purification; literature reviews; methods; microcystins; nanotechnology; Nanotubes, Carbon; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; organic matter; Pathogens; Point of use treatment; pollutants; Pollution; Surface chemistry; toxicity; Toxins; Water Pollutants; Water Pollutants - chemistry; Water Pollutants - isolation & purification; Water Pollutants - toxicity; Water Purification; Water Purification - economics; Water Purification - methods; Water Purification - standards; Water Supply; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Carbon nanotubes; Drinking water; Water treatment; Biological contaminants; Adsorption; Point of use treatment; Drinking water treatment; Costs; Organic matter; Microbiology; Review; Toxin; Microbial origin; Filter; Pathogenic; Cyanobacteria; Separation process; Bacteria; Performance; Biological contamination; Distribution network
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.09.027

Carbon nanotube (CNT) adsorption technology has the potential to support point of use (POU) based treatment approach for removal of bacterial pathogens, natural organic matter (NOM), and cyanobacterial toxins from water systems. Unlike many microporous adsorbents, CNTs possess fibrous shape with high aspect ratio, large accessible external surface area, and well developed mesopores, all contribute to the superior removal capacities of these macromolecular biomolecules and microorganisms. This article provides a comprehensive review on application of CNTs as adsorbent media to concentrate and remove pathogens, NOM, and cyanobacterial (microcystin derivatives) toxins from water systems. The paper also surveys on consideration of CNT based adsorption filters for removal of these contaminants from cost, operational and safety standpoint. Based on the studied literature it appears that POU based CNT technology looks promising, that can possibly avoid difficulties of treating biological contaminants in conventional water treatment plants, and thereby remove the burden of maintaining the biostability of treated water in the distribution systems.