Biodegradable polymer-based nanoadsorbents for environmental remediation

Abstract The speedy rate of industrialization and its resulting by-products have affected the environment by producing hazardous wastes and other toxic effluents, which have been discharged into the environment, immediately impacting the human population. Polymer nanoadsorbents have received a great deal of attention due to their promising mechanical properties, thermal stability, and unique physical and chemical properties thanks to their large surface-area-to-volume ratio. The generally-used nanoparticles include zero-valent metals, metallic oxide polymers, and single-enzyme nanoparticles incorporated with biodegradable polymer-based matrices, such as porous resins, polyaniline, polyacrylamides, cellulose acetate, cellulose or carboxymethyl cellulose, chitosan, alginate, and so forth. This chapter concentrates on the cost effective and biodegradable nature of polymer-based nanoadsorbents for environmental remediation.