Biocompatible nanomaterials for sensing and remediation of nitrites and fluorides from polluted water

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have resulted in alarming pollution rates of aquatic ecosystems by the discharge of a number of anionic pollutants, especially nitrites and fluorides. These ionic contaminants, both in species and metal complexes, form to pose a severe threat to environmental and human health. To mitigate this situation, research efforts are increasingly focused on the development of cost-efficient methods to sense and remove these anionic pollutants. The sorption process using bionanomaterials is one of the most advanced treatment technologies that has gained increased attraction and attention for the sensing and removal of nitrites and fluorides due to the efficiency, profitability, simplicity, and scalability of the technique. This chapter highlights the recent developments and progress in the application of biocompatible nanomaterials for treating nitrites and fluorides polluted aqueous streams. Synthesis, characteristics, application, and pollutants separation mechanism of different bionanomaterials and bionanocomposites for water and wastewater treatment are briefed. Further, challenges and outlook on the effective realization of these materials are also critically commented.