Green Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Degradation of Toxic Organic Compounds

In recent years, nanomaterials as photocatalysts have gained much popularity for the removal of organic pollutants from tainted water using photodegradation, since the available chemical, physical, and biological methods are often time consuming, involve high cost and dumping complications, sometimes posing serious threat to both human health and environmental elements. The use of nanomaterials is less expensive and does not, in general, form aggregated macromolecules. In addition, nanotechnology for waste-water treatment demolishes or alters the risky chemical wastes to harmless end products like H2O and CO2. Nanomaterials synthesized from natural resources or prepared using green synthetic routes are receiving a surge of interest as our consciousness of the ecological environment and safety rises. ‘Green’ materials of this kind might also show unique strength features and exceptional biodegradability, along with their other notable advantageous properties like a minimum threat to the environment, efficient recyclability and low cost compared to synthetic nanomaterials. Such green nanomaterials can also serve as nanocatalysts to treat toxic organic pollutants in a safer way, including photodegradation to less or non-toxic products. This article reviews the latest developments on the synthesis of some promising green nanomaterials aiming towards their efficient uses as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants. Strategies to find new green materials as photocatalysts through the modification of technologies and the development of novel methodologies for the safer treatment of organic pollutants will also be discussed.