A Review on Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Effective Applications in Membranes and Adsorbents for Water Treatment and Gas Separation
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membranes Review A Review on Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Effective Applications in Membranes and Adsorbents for Water Treatment and Gas Separation Oluranti Agboola 1,*, Ojo Sunday Isaac Fayomi 2, Ayoola Ayodeji 1, Augustine Omoniyi Ayeni 1 , Edith E. Alagbe 1, Samuel E. Sanni 1 , Emmanuel E. Okoro 3 , Lucey Moropeng 4, Rotimi Sadiku 4 , Kehinde Williams Kupolati 5 and Babalola Aisosa Oni 6 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota PMB 1023, Nigeria; [email protected] (A.A.); [email protected] (A.O.A.); [email protected] (E.E.A.); [email protected] (S.E.S.) 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, Ota PMB 1023, Nigeria; [email protected] 3 Department of Petroleum Engineering, Covenant University, Ota PMB 1023, Nigeria; [email protected] 4 Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; [email protected] (L.M.); [email protected] (R.S.) 5 Department of Civil Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; [email protected] 6 Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Globally, environmental challenges have been recognised as a matter of concern. Among Citation: Agboola, O.; Fayomi, O.S.I.; these challenges are the reduced availability and quality of drinking water, and greenhouse gases Ayodeji, A.; Ayeni, A.O.; Alagbe, E.E.; that give rise to change in climate by entrapping heat, which result in respirational illness from smog Sanni, S.E.; Okoro, E.E.; Moropeng, L.; and air pollution. Globally, the rate of demand for the use of freshwater has outgrown the rate of Sadiku, R.; Kupolati, K.W.; et al. A population increase; as the rapid growth in town and cities place a huge pressure on neighbouring Review on Polymer Nanocomposites water resources. Besides, the rapid growth in anthropogenic activities, such as the generation of and Their Effective Applications in energy and its conveyance, release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, warming the planet. Membranes and Adsorbents for Polymer nanocomposite has played a significant role in finding solutions to current environmental Water Treatment and Gas Separation. problems. It has found interest due to its high potential for the reduction of gas emission, and Membranes 2021, 11, 139. https:// doi.org/10.3390/membranes11020139 elimination of pollutants, heavy metals, dyes, and oil in wastewater. The revolution of integrating developed novel nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, nanofibers and activated Received: 27 November 2020 carbon, in polymers, have instigated revitalizing and favourable inventive nanotechnologies for Accepted: 4 January 2021 the treatment of wastewater and gas separation. This review discusses the effective employment of Published: 16 February 2021 polymer nanocomposites for environmental utilizations. Polymer nanocomposite membranes for wastewater treatment and gas separation were reviewed together with their mechanisms. The use of Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu- polymer nanocomposites as an adsorbent for toxic metals ions removal and an adsorbent for dye tral with regard to jurisdictional clai- removal were also discussed, together with the mechanism of the adsorption process. Patents in ms in published maps and institutio- the utilization of innovative polymeric nanocomposite membranes for environmental utilizations nal affiliations. were discussed. Keywords: polymer nanocomposite; polymer nanocomposite membranes; wastewater treatment; Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Li- gas separation; polymer nanocomposites adsorbent; functionalization censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and con- ditions of the Creative Commons At- 1. Polymer Nanocomposites for Environmental Applications tribution (CC BY) license (https:// Nanotechnology is the manipulation of materials at the infinitesimal or minuscule creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ scale. The utilization of materials with different structures at the nanoscale spans in the 4.0/). Membranes 2021, 11, 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11020139 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/membranes Membranes 2021, 11, x 2 of 36 1. Polymer Nanocomposites for Environmental Applications Membranes 2021, 11, 139 2 of 33 Nanotechnology is the manipulation of materials at the infinitesimal or minuscule scale. The utilization of materials with different structures at the nanoscale spans in the range of 1 to 100 nm. Different types of nanomaterials have different diameter size (see Figurerange of1). 1The to 100properties nm. Different of nanomaterials, types of nanomaterials especially nanoparticles, have different exhibit diameter some size form (see of alterationFigure1). Theas their properties sizes get of nanomaterials,close to the nanoscale; especially and nanoparticles, as the segment exhibit of someatoms form at the of surfacealteration of as material their sizes gains get close momentum. to the nanoscale; As a andresult as the of segment its nanosized of atoms atdimensions, the surface nanomaterialsof material gains such momentum. as nanoparticles; As a result and of ca itsrbon nanosized nanotubes, dimensions, nanosheets, nanomaterials and nanofibers such haveas nanoparticles; demonstrated and distinctive carbon nanotubes, chemical and nanosheets, physical and properties nanofibers [1]. haveFor example, demonstrated they havedistinctive huge surface chemical areas and to physical volume ratios properties or enormous [1]. For interfacial example, theyreactivity. have Table huge surface1 gives theareas exceptional to volume ratioscharacteristics or enormous of different interfacial nanomaterials, reactivity. Table which1 gives accord the exceptional them the suitabilitycharacteristics for environmental of different nanomaterials, utilizations when which incorporated accord them into the polymers. suitability For for example, environ- nanoparticlesmental utilizations possess when a incorporatedhuge surface intoarea polymers. to volume For ratio example, and nanoparticleshigh percentage possess of atoms/moleculesa huge surface area associated to volume with ratio surfaces and high percentage[2]. Carbon of nanotubes atoms/molecules possess associated a large length-to-diameterwith surfaces [2]. Carbon ratio (aspect nanotubes ratio) possess that is higher a large than length-to-diameter 1000 and a remarkable ratio (aspect electrical ratio) conductivitythat is higher together than 1000 with and aa remarkable remarkable electrical mechanical conductivity property together [3]. What with aaccords remark- nanofibersable mechanical with outstanding property [3 ].physical What accordsand chemical nanofibers properties with outstandingis their size, physicalhuge surface and area,chemical and propertieshigh aspect is ratio their [4]. size, Nanosheets huge surface possess area, andbroad high sideway aspect dimensions ratio [4]. Nanosheets and high possess broad sideway dimensions and high surface area that makes them advantageous surface area that makes them advantageous for the fabrication of excellent reinforced for the fabrication of excellent reinforced polymeric composites [5]. Furthermore, they have polymeric composites [5]. Furthermore, they have excellent catalytic activities such as excellent catalytic activities such as photo-/thermo-catalytic activity [6]. photo-/thermo-catalytic activity [6]. Figure 1. Schematic representation of different nanomaterials and their diameters. Carbon nanotubes nanotubes are are known to have diameters in the range of a nanometer. Nanoparticle propertiesproperties changechange asas itit getsgets toto nanoscale.nanoscale. The The nanosheet nanosheet is regardedis regarded as asanother another type type of of nanoparticle. nanoparticle. Nanofibers Nanofibers can can be be prepared prepared from from diverse diverse polymers polymers and and hence, hence, have have diverse diverse sizes. sizes. InIn thethe spheresphere of of science science and and engineering, engineerin studiesg, studies on carbon on carbon nanotubes nanotubes have expan-have expansivelysively made made them prospectivethem prospe materials,ctive materials, on the accounton the ofaccount their enthralling of their enthralling properties propertiessuch as high such thermal as high and thermal chemical and chemical stability, stability, well-defined well-defined adsorption adsorption sites, and sites, easy and at- easytachment attachment of functional of functional groups. groups. On the On account the account of structural of structural defects thatdefects occur that from occur the fromC=C the bond C=C breakages bond breakages in the course in the of course chemical of chemical treatment, treatment, the mechanical the mechanical and electrical and electricalcharacteristics characteristics of single-walled of single-walled carbon nanotubes carbon nanotubes can generally can generally be transformed be transformed on func- ontionalization. functionalization. Hence, functionalizationHence, functionalizatio of the surfacen of the of carbonsurface nanotubes of carbon is nanotubes a vital element is a vitalin ecological element applications in ecological [7]. applications In