Page 450 - Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

P. 450

Nanocomposite membrane for 15

environmental remediation

‡
†
A.H. Bhat*, W.U. Rehman*, I.U. Khan*, I. Khan , S. Ahmad , M. Ayoub*,
§
M.A. Usmani
†
*University Technology PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Malaysia, Sultan Qaboos
‡
University, Muscat, Oman, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Sarawak, Malaysia,
§
Gandhi Faiz-E-Aam College, Shahjahanpur, India

15.1 Introduction

Water is a source of life and energy, although a lot of people around the world are
suffering with the shortage of fresh and clean drinking water. Clean and drinking
water is one of the most important constituent for all living organisms for survival
of life and a valuable resource for human civilization on earth.
However, due to the rapid growth of industrialization, incredible increase in the
population and unplanned urbanization have largely added to the severe water pollu-
tion and surrounding soils. The discharge of untreated sanitary and toxic industrial
wastes, discarding of industrial effluent, and overflow from agricultural fields are
the main sources of freshwater pollution. It is clear that contaminated water causes
70%–80% of all illnesses in developing countries, especially to women and children
[1,2]. On the Earth’s surface, >70% water bodies exist, but unfortunately, around 1%
of that resource is available for human beings [3,4]. The shortage of clean water has
been one of the most serious challenge, with an effect on human society that the world
is facing today [5,6]. Due to that large contamination of water, the environment and
human society are effected day by day; it also shows negative impression on economic
and social values [7]. It is expected that due to shortage of freshwater, one-third of the
world’s total population would be grieved by 2030 [8].
There are a variety of freshwater pollutants; however, the most important classes
are heavy metal and their ions, organic dyes, and inorganic contaminants. When these
pollutants enter to water bodies, the water is no longer safe for human consumption
and show negative effect on human health and environment [9,10]. Therefore, in view
of these facts, the development of fast, efficient, and economic procedures for the
removal of pollutants from freshwater is the urgent need of today in order to able
for human consumption.
To solve this alarming issue related to clean water, water purification technologies
have been acknowledged as one of the most effective techniques. To date, a variety
of methods have been developed for the purification of waste water [11].
However, already existing technologies for the treatment of water are micro- and
ultrafiltration, sedimentation and gravity separation, solvent extraction, flotation,

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