Cyclodextrin-based nanostructured materials for sustainable water remediation applications

The problem of water pollution is a burning social issue even though sustainable efforts are being made in recent years. The discharged water from various industries contains a considerable amount of organic and inorganic pollutants. Heavy metals, dyes, and aromatic hydrocarbons constitute a significant portion of water contaminants, and it is challenging to remove contaminants at low concentration value. Cyclodextrin nanomaterials modified with carbon nanomaterials, polymer, and metal nanoparticles have been reported as promising and sustainable tools for water remediation through adsorption and catalytic degradation approaches. The cyclodextrin polymers have been developed as nanoporous and nanosponge materials using different bifunctional linking reagents, which are highly efficient in removing a wide variety of organic and inorganic waste from water bodies through adsorption. Various chemical modifications in cyclodextrin-based nanostructured materials have been reported to enhance its affinity for the contaminants. In the present review, recent advances in cyclodextrin-based nanostructured materials for water remediation application via different mechanisms have been discussed.