Tailored natural polymers: a useful eco-friendly sustainable tool for the mitigation of emerging pollutants: a review

During the last decades, rising environmental concerns about the widespread usage of petroleum-based synthetic compounds and assorted chemicals has posed a challenge in mitigating these in an environmentally benign and sustainable manner; thus, naturally occurring polymers have emerged as the most suited candidates for their different properties, availability, etc. Many recent literature works have established the use of various kinds of natural polymers (cellulose, chitin, starch, and alginate) to fabricate materials for wastewater treatment, i.e. pollution mitigation. Augmenting the thermo-mechanical–chemical longevity of these materials by incorporating organic and inorganic additives is a crucial focus area. The utilization of nanotechnology has become integral in many sectors; the extended advancement in this domain has led to the emergence of the tailored natural polymers. This review aims to provide some insight into the need for these engineered nanocomposites polymers, their classification, manufacturing methods, and also endeavoured to illuminate the application of these nanopolymers in environmental remediation as a useful eco-friendly sustainable tool for the mitigation of these emerging pollutants.