Carbon Nanomaterial-Based Adsorbents for Water Purification

The deterioration of water quality and unavailability of drinkable water are pressing challenges worldwide. The removal of toxic organic and inorganic pollutants from water is vital for a clean environment, as a response to water scarcity. Adsorption-based water technologies are among the most widely used because of their high efficiency and low cost, without relying on a complex infrastructure. In recent years, carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), such as graphene and derivatives, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, nanoporous carbon, fullerenes, graphitic carbon nitride, and nanodiamonds have been extensively exploited as adsorbents due to their extraordinary surface properties, ease of modification, large surface area, controlled structural varieties, high chemical stability, porosity, low density, ease of regeneration, and reusability.

This book provides a thorough overview of the state of the art in carbon nanomaterials as they are used for adsorption applications in water purifications, as well as addressing their toxicological challenges. This volume primarily explores the fundamentals of adsorption, its mechanical aspects, synthesis and properties of CNMs, and adsorption performances of CNMs and their nanocomposites with organic and inorganic materials. Structural engineering and activation processes produce materials with enhanced adsorptive properties and separation efficiencies. Furthermore, the formation of CNMs with 2D and 3D macro-and microstructures and high porosities is a potential approach to improve adsorption performances and extend CNM use at the industrial level. The book also addresses important issues regarding these adsorbents that potentially affect future research and industrial applications of carbon-based nanoadsorbents in water security.

Prof. Ray is the author of 7 books, co-author of 5 edited books, 32 book chapters on various aspects of polymer-based nanostructured materials & their applications, and author and co-author of 370 articles in high-impact international journals, 30 articles in national and international conference proceedings. He also has 6 patents and 7 new demonstrated technologies shared with colleagues, collaborators and industrial partners to his name. So far, his team commercialized 19 different products. His honors and awards include South Africa's most Prestigious 2016 National Science and Technology Award (NSTF); Prestigious 2014 CSIR-wide Leadership award; Prestigious 2014 CSIR Human Capital development award; Prestigious 2013 Morand Lambla Awardee (top award in the field of polymer processing worldwide), International Polymer Processing Society, USA. He is also appointed as Extraordinary Professor, University of Pretoria and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg. Currently, he is serving as an Associate Editor of the RSC Advances, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK; and editorial board member of Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, Journal of Films and Sheeting, and ACS Omega.
Rashi Gusain is a Research Fellow at University of Johannesburg and also a visiting researcher at CSIR-Pretoria, South Africa. Her research interests focus on development of inorganic materials for photo-degradation of organic water contaminants and CO2 capture and conversion.
Neeraj Kumar is a senior researcher at the DST-CSIR National Centre for Nanostructured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa. His research interests focus on controllable synthesis of nano-structural layered materials especially carbon nanomaterials and metal chalcogenides and their modifications for environmental applications including water treatments, adsorption, photocatalysis, and CO2 capture and conversion