Current Perspectives of Nanomaterials in Wastewater Treatment for Sustainable Environment

Nanotechnology is becoming an indispensable component of the Sustain
able Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of environmental preserva
tion and circular economy. Several anthropogenic activity-induced issues, like pollu
tion, biodiversity loss, climate change, etc., have posed challenges in achieving these
goals by 2030. Nanotechnology holds significant implications for global sustain
ability endeavors as evident from its presence in numerous scientific domains,
including engineering, medicinal science, energy, and the environment. Green
nanotechnology offers an interesting avenue for the synthesis of safe and cost
effective nano-materials/particles with requisite specification. Green synthesis of
nanomaterials (NMs) employs bio-resources such as bacteria, fungi, herbs, and
agricultural residues, which lowers the synthesis process’ carbon footprint. This
chapter discusses the green nanotechnology-enabled solutions for wastewater treat
ment under the ambit of SDG-goal 6 “clean water and sanitation.” We also talk about potential green NMs, their characteristics and mechanisms for wastewater manage
ment applications, benefits and drawbacks in comparison with current methods, and
the challenges and future scope of research activities.