Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Biogenic …
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4.3 Environmental Application of Biogenic Nanoparticles
After meeting the major challenges in environment development and sustainability,
the biogenic nanomaterials can help in solving serious environmental challenges in
the area of wastewater treatment, pollutant removal, fatal diseases, climate change,
and solar energy conversion. Nanoparticles are considered a good source for removal
of many organic compounds due to their chemical stability, high oxidation efficiency,
cheap, and are environmentally friendly (Ali Mansoori 2008; Bhavani et al. 2014;
Cai et al. 2011; Hasan et al. 2016).
Some of the environment applications (Chaloupka et al. 2010; Chen and
Schluesener 2008; Chen et al. 2014; Choi et al. 2007) of nanoparticles are:
a. Biosensors: Various nanoparticles, biogenic and non-biogenic, like oxide, metals
are used in constructing of biosensors, and these nanoparticles play a major role
in detecting and sensing systems (Sotiriou and Pratsinis 2011).
b. Wastewater treatment: Nanotechnology shows three types of advantages in the
treatment of wastewater; majorly like treatment and remediation, sensing and
detection, and pollution control. Cleaning of wastewater streams, contaminants
that are toxic in nature, or those that are difficult-to-treat promised treatment of
wastewater because these technologies are rapid, specific, and worthwhile solutions for the treatment of contaminants. Significant concerns also focused on soil
remediation and groundwater sedimentation. Some latest examples of biogenic
treatment of wastewater are nanocoagulants to extract water contaminants from
wastewater streams. In this the Actinia-like biomimetic micellar nanocoagulant is
recently used to treat groundwater. The major use of this technology is to remove
contaminants from water and produce high-quality water (Liu et al. 2019).
c. Nanomaterials for wastewater clean-up: The titanate nanofibers are used as
an absorbent for the removal of heavy metals or several radioactive ions from
the wastewater. These types of nanoparticles are mostly used in the treatment of
radioactive wastewater (Hua et al. 2012).
d. Nanotechnology for battery recycling: Batteries are yet containing different
types of chemicals and hazardous heavy metals, like mercury, lead, copper,
nickel, cadmium and so on, which defile the environment and cause several
risks to human health when they are improperly disposed off. Recently, pure
zinc oxide nanoparticles are used to form recyclable batteries. The Zn-MnO 2
alkaline batteries are used nowadays to save the environment (Bogutska et al.
2013).
e. Hydrogen production from sunlight-artificial photosynthesis: Hydrogen production from sunlight-artificial photosynthesis is green glow, ecological, and
biodegradable technology that proves to be beneficial for our planet. In this system, the solar energy is used to break hydrogen and oxygen from water through
artificial photosynthesis which can offer a clean and green advantageous root for
energy supply from the sunlight (Melis 2012).
67
4.3 Environmental Application of Biogenic Nanoparticles
After meeting the major challenges in environment development and sustainability,
the biogenic nanomaterials can help in solving serious environmental challenges in
the area of wastewater treatment, pollutant removal, fatal diseases, climate change,
and solar energy conversion. Nanoparticles are considered a good source for removal
of many organic compounds due to their chemical stability, high oxidation efficiency,
cheap, and are environmentally friendly (Ali Mansoori 2008; Bhavani et al. 2014;
Cai et al. 2011; Hasan et al. 2016).
Some of the environment applications (Chaloupka et al. 2010; Chen and
Schluesener 2008; Chen et al. 2014; Choi et al. 2007) of nanoparticles are:
a. Biosensors: Various nanoparticles, biogenic and non-biogenic, like oxide, metals
are used in constructing of biosensors, and these nanoparticles play a major role
in detecting and sensing systems (Sotiriou and Pratsinis 2011).
b. Wastewater treatment: Nanotechnology shows three types of advantages in the
treatment of wastewater; majorly like treatment and remediation, sensing and
detection, and pollution control. Cleaning of wastewater streams, contaminants
that are toxic in nature, or those that are difficult-to-treat promised treatment of
wastewater because these technologies are rapid, specific, and worthwhile solutions for the treatment of contaminants. Significant concerns also focused on soil
remediation and groundwater sedimentation. Some latest examples of biogenic
treatment of wastewater are nanocoagulants to extract water contaminants from
wastewater streams. In this the Actinia-like biomimetic micellar nanocoagulant is
recently used to treat groundwater. The major use of this technology is to remove
contaminants from water and produce high-quality water (Liu et al. 2019).
c. Nanomaterials for wastewater clean-up: The titanate nanofibers are used as
an absorbent for the removal of heavy metals or several radioactive ions from
the wastewater. These types of nanoparticles are mostly used in the treatment of
radioactive wastewater (Hua et al. 2012).
d. Nanotechnology for battery recycling: Batteries are yet containing different
types of chemicals and hazardous heavy metals, like mercury, lead, copper,
nickel, cadmium and so on, which defile the environment and cause several
risks to human health when they are improperly disposed off. Recently, pure
zinc oxide nanoparticles are used to form recyclable batteries. The Zn-MnO 2
alkaline batteries are used nowadays to save the environment (Bogutska et al.
2013).
e. Hydrogen production from sunlight-artificial photosynthesis: Hydrogen production from sunlight-artificial photosynthesis is green glow, ecological, and
biodegradable technology that proves to be beneficial for our planet. In this system, the solar energy is used to break hydrogen and oxygen from water through
artificial photosynthesis which can offer a clean and green advantageous root for
energy supply from the sunlight (Melis 2012).