all processes occurring in ecosystems. Water also forms a separate ecosystem that
provides an environment for numerous living organisms. The amount and quality of
water and soil are basic factors in determining sustainable socioeconomic development. The technological and economic progress which is currently being made
disrupts the balance of ecosystems on land and in water. One of the most important
factors contributing to this phenomenon is the large amount of toxic substances
emitted into the environment. Toxic substances lead to degradation of the water and
soil. Water and soil are limited resources, and it is estimated that they will be
insufficient in the near future. There is a clear and urgent need to develop new
technologies to improve the quality of or recover these resources. Nanotechnology
may have an impact on reducing the production of waste. As already indicated, in
agriculture, nanofertilizers and nanopesticides limit the contamination of soil and
water caused by agrochemicals (Guerra et al. 2018). Nanotechnology may also
provide cheaper technologies for desalination and water treatment and enable the
development of technology using renewable energy sources, e.g., solar energy
conversion (Wallentin et al. 2013; Wang et al. 2013). Sensors based on
nanomaterials may be used for monitoring water quality by detecting various
pollutants. This is an important contribution to protection of the environment, but
nanotechnology also has a role to play in soil and water remediation.
Nanocompounds are considered to be more effective in remediation processes due
to their aforementioned unique thermal, optical, mechanical, electromagnetic, structural, and morphological properties. NPs have the capacity to adsorb or break down
pollutants by means of ion exchange, oxidation, reduction, surface processes,
adsorption, precipitation, complexation, and electrostatic interactions.
Nanocompounds are used in remediation as nanoadsorbents, nanomembranes,
nanosensors, and disinfectants (Das et al. 2015; Ibrahim et al. 2016; FernándezLuqueño et al. 2017).
It has been shown that NPs can effectively break down organic halogenated
hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrates, heavy metals, and dyes
(Medina-Pérez et al. 2019). One of the nanomaterials most commonly used in
environmental remediation is nano zerovalent iron (nZVI), which is a highly efficient and environmentally friendly adsorbent, thanks to its excellent mobility, high
specific surface area, high reactivity, high rate of reaction, and low toxicity (Zou
et al. 2016a; Pang et al. 2018). Qiu et al. (2011) demonstrated that
decabromodiphenyl ether, which easily accumulates in soil, can be broken down
using nZVI. nZVI was also found to be effective to 78% in the process of removing
decabromodiphenyl ether from soil by Xie et al. (2016). Similarly, Kanel et al.
(2006) proved that nZVIs successfully remove As(V) from groundwater. Zhang
(2003) showed that nZVIs are effective in the transformation and removal of
chlorinated organic solvents, heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and
organochlorine pesticides commonly found in polluted soil and groundwater. In field
tests, Henn and Waddill (2006) noted a reduction in trichloroethene (TCE) with the
use of nZVI. In their tests, Macé et al. (2006) showed there to be a reduction in
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in groundwater treated with nZVI. The
authors suggested that nZVIs may be effective over large areas, as they are
12
A. Gorczyca et al.
provides an environment for numerous living organisms. The amount and quality of
water and soil are basic factors in determining sustainable socioeconomic development. The technological and economic progress which is currently being made
disrupts the balance of ecosystems on land and in water. One of the most important
factors contributing to this phenomenon is the large amount of toxic substances
emitted into the environment. Toxic substances lead to degradation of the water and
soil. Water and soil are limited resources, and it is estimated that they will be
insufficient in the near future. There is a clear and urgent need to develop new
technologies to improve the quality of or recover these resources. Nanotechnology
may have an impact on reducing the production of waste. As already indicated, in
agriculture, nanofertilizers and nanopesticides limit the contamination of soil and
water caused by agrochemicals (Guerra et al. 2018). Nanotechnology may also
provide cheaper technologies for desalination and water treatment and enable the
development of technology using renewable energy sources, e.g., solar energy
conversion (Wallentin et al. 2013; Wang et al. 2013). Sensors based on
nanomaterials may be used for monitoring water quality by detecting various
pollutants. This is an important contribution to protection of the environment, but
nanotechnology also has a role to play in soil and water remediation.
Nanocompounds are considered to be more effective in remediation processes due
to their aforementioned unique thermal, optical, mechanical, electromagnetic, structural, and morphological properties. NPs have the capacity to adsorb or break down
pollutants by means of ion exchange, oxidation, reduction, surface processes,
adsorption, precipitation, complexation, and electrostatic interactions.
Nanocompounds are used in remediation as nanoadsorbents, nanomembranes,
nanosensors, and disinfectants (Das et al. 2015; Ibrahim et al. 2016; FernándezLuqueño et al. 2017).
It has been shown that NPs can effectively break down organic halogenated
hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrates, heavy metals, and dyes
(Medina-Pérez et al. 2019). One of the nanomaterials most commonly used in
environmental remediation is nano zerovalent iron (nZVI), which is a highly efficient and environmentally friendly adsorbent, thanks to its excellent mobility, high
specific surface area, high reactivity, high rate of reaction, and low toxicity (Zou
et al. 2016a; Pang et al. 2018). Qiu et al. (2011) demonstrated that
decabromodiphenyl ether, which easily accumulates in soil, can be broken down
using nZVI. nZVI was also found to be effective to 78% in the process of removing
decabromodiphenyl ether from soil by Xie et al. (2016). Similarly, Kanel et al.
(2006) proved that nZVIs successfully remove As(V) from groundwater. Zhang
(2003) showed that nZVIs are effective in the transformation and removal of
chlorinated organic solvents, heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and
organochlorine pesticides commonly found in polluted soil and groundwater. In field
tests, Henn and Waddill (2006) noted a reduction in trichloroethene (TCE) with the
use of nZVI. In their tests, Macé et al. (2006) showed there to be a reduction in
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in groundwater treated with nZVI. The
authors suggested that nZVIs may be effective over large areas, as they are
12
A. Gorczyca et al.