Chemically Modified Carbon Nanotubes for Pollutants Adsorption

In order to reduce the water crisis and protect our environment, the easy abatement of aquatic contaminants from water is an essential requirement. Among other available water treatments, the adsorption method is generally considered to be the best as it has high removal efficiency, easy to procedure, economical, etc. Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based materials including doped CNTs, composites, (covalent and noncovalent) functionalized CNTs were comprehensively evaluated as adsorbents for the removal of both organic and inorganic contaminants from natural and simulated polluted waters. This chapter exclusively deals with chemically modified CNT-based adsorbents for the elimination of water pollutants from aqueous solutions. Section Application Challenges from a Bird’s-Eye View outlines the basic introduction of adsorption processes and chemical modifications of CNTs and their properties. Section Application Challenges from a Bird’s-Eye View describes various surface modification methods for CNTs. Section Application Challenges from a Bird’s-Eye View explains the adsorption behavior of chemically modified single-wall and multiwall CNT-based adsorbents toward organic (dyes, pharmaceuticals, etc.) and inorganic (metal ions) pollutants. Sections Application Challenges from a Bird’s-Eye View and Application Challenges from a Bird’s-Eye View summarize the influencing parameters and adsorption mechanisms, respectively. The conclusion with a perspective on the chemically modified CNT adsorbents toward pollutant removal has been highlighted at the end of this chapter.