Application of Nanotechnology in Water Research

Chapter 9

Advances in Nanotechnologies for Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry Water Purification

Sabelo Dalton Mhlanga* and Edward Ndumiso Nxumalo

Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa

*Corresponding author: [e-mail]

Abstract

Nanotechnology for water purification purposes has been an area of intensive research in the past two decades. This chapter reviews recent advances of nanotechnology (nanostructured materials) in small-scale water purification systems, i.e., point-of-use (POU) systems and point-of-entry (POE) devices. The POU system is the treatment process aimed at treating only water intended for direct consumption (drinking and cooking), typically at a single tap or limited number of taps. Point-of-entry (POE) treatment devices are those usually installed to treat all water entering a single home, business, school, or facility. The POU- and POE-based nanomaterials reviewed are new water purification technologies for removal of high priority pollutants such as microbial and heavy metals. These are (i) absorptive nanopolymers (i.e., cyclodextrin-based nanocomposite polymers), (ii) nanomembrane-based filters and (iii) other filters based on clay and antimicrobial nanofibers. Emphasis is placed on the various nanostructures (not the pollutants) that have been developed, focusing on their physicochemical properties and their impact in water purification globally.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, point-of-use (POU), point-of-entry ...