CHAPTER 5. Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation

Environmental pollution has threatened the life of all living organisms on earth. The removal of pollutants from wastewater and contaminated water is desired to prevent the pollution issues from becoming worse. In this context, polymer-based nanocomposites have been developed and emerged as one of the advanced materials that can be used to solve the environmental pollution challenges. This composite material is produced by combining nanomaterials with polymers and usually appears in the form of membranes, adsorbents, hydrogels, and aerogels. These polymer-based nanocomposites possess improved characteristics and properties compared to the original individual material. Subsequently, the pollutants removal capability of the polymer-based nanocomposites has been enhanced significantly, with some even attaining new functionalities such as antibacterial and photocatalytic. This chapter features the development and application of four major classes of polymer-based nanocomposites (membrane, adsorbent, hydrogel, and aerogel) for environmental remediation. Various examples and latest findings are discussed, which provides up-to-date information for readers interested in this topic.