CHAPTER 8. Antimicrobial Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation

Abstract

In recent times, antimicrobial nanocomposites have attracted significant attention in various applications and products due to the safety and hygiene concerns of the modern life style as well as during the recent pandemic (COVID-19) situation. Antimicrobial nanocomposites are prepared generally by mixing antibacterial organic compounds with various metal ions or metal nanoparticles, such as silver, gold, zinc, copper, aluminium, etc., with a polymer and other nanomaterials as support. The use of high-cost metal nanoparticles limits practical applications. Hence, significant attention has been focussed on the development of low-cost antimicrobial nanocomposites for multiple applications. In this chapter, we briefly focus on various pathways of developing antimicrobial nanocomposites for a wide variety of applications and highlight the importance of antimicrobial nanocomposites and the future demand for environmentally friendly nanocomposites.