Role of carbon nanotubes, carbon nano-fibres and nano-gels in eliminating pollutants from aqueous solution

Abstract Pollutants in water bodies is a major threat, which affects both flora and fauna, including humans. The environmental impact on pollutants due to increase in industrialization and growing populations has been increasing every year. The efficient removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions is a significant challenge in environmental remediation. In recent years, the application of nanomaterials has emerged as a promising strategy to address this issue. Of these nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and nano-gels have attracted considerable attention due to their unique properties and their versatile functionalities. In this review, we have discussed about the recent advances in CNTs, CNFs, nanogels in eliminating pollutants from aqueous solution. CNTs possess a notable aspect ratio and demonstrate outstanding mechanical strength, enabling them to effectively adsorb a wide range of contaminants including heavy metals, organic compounds, and gases, CNFs have improved adsorption and catalytic characteristics. These entities exhibit efficacy in the elimination of contaminants from aquatic ecosystems and atmospheric currents, hence aiding in the restoration of polluted settings, and nano-gels, which are composed of cross-linked polymers arranged in three dimensions, offer a flexible framework for the encapsulation of pollutants and the precise delivery of substances. Functionalized nano-gels provide the targeted adsorption of particular contaminants, hence providing customised approaches for the management and mitigation of pollution. The utilisation of nanomaterials holds significant promise in the advancement of water treatment technologies, necessitating the enhancement of their practical applications.