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Covalent and Non-covalent Functionalized Nanomaterials for Environmental Restoration
Open accessAbstract
Nanotechnology has emerged as an extraordinary and rapidly developing discipline of science. It has remolded the fate of the whole world by providing diverse horizons in different fields. Nanomaterials are appealing because of their incredibly small size and large surface area. Apart from the naturally occurring nanomaterials, synthetic nanomaterials are being prepared on large scales with different sizes and properties. Such nanomaterials are being utilized as an innovative and green approach in multiple fields. To expand the applications and enhance the properties of the nanomaterials, their functionalization and engineering are being performed on a massive scale. The functionalization helps to add to the existing useful properties of the nanomaterials, hence broadening the scope of their utilization. A large class of covalent and non-covalent functionalized nanomaterials (FNMs) including carbons, metal oxides, quantum dots, and composites of these materials with other organic or inorganic materials are being synthesized and used for environmental remediation applications including wastewater treatment. This review summarizes recent advances in the synthesis, reporting techniques, and applications of FNMs in adsorptive and photocatalytic removal of pollutants from wastewater. Future prospects are also examined, along with suggestions for attaining massive benefits in the areas of FNMs.
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![Fig. 2 Illustration of photodegradation and adsorption process for wastewater treatment. Reproduced with permission [74] Copyright 2020, Elsevier](/paper-figures/c65478ea2cc34b5288e218e0b550f821/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-2.jpg)
![Fig. 3 Illustration of the grafting-to reaction. Reproduced with permission [90] Copyright 2018, American Chemical Society](/paper-figures/2641ec499a0e4fbfa76b0a156a3c6e6a/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-3.jpg)

![Fig. 5 Explanation of the sorption process on a fixed bed for effective removal of pharmaceutical contaminants. Reproduced with permission [109], Copyright 2018, Elsevier](/paper-figures/887e68281f3a476fb01051f59a3a88f0/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-5.jpg)
![Fig. 6 a Sawdust-derived biochar and its applications for the removal of copper and tetracycline [118], and b explanation of mineral materials for removal of water pollutants released from different sectors. Reproduced with permission [123], Copyright 2017, International Water Association](/paper-figures/330d1d7b2d7d4ce38df915ea6edb0639/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-6.jpg)
![Fig. 7 Preparation of vitamin C-MWCNT nanocomposites and their digital pictures and their application for MB dye adsorption. Reproduced with permission [178], Copyright 2019, Elsevier](/paper-figures/ebcc187e79fc4c92b2689b7bce0038b2/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-7.jpg)
![Fig. 8 Schematic presentation of the MB adsorption on the f-GNP1 surface. Reproduced with permission [249], Copyright 2019, Springer Nature](/paper-figures/e07e66de1e574c538ec28f6807ecc731/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-8.jpg)
![Fig. 9 One-step polyethylene terephthalate catalytic dissociation for the synthesis of functionalized magnetic fullerene nanocomposites (FMFN) and different kinds of interactions for the sorption of ciprofloxacin. Reproduced with permission [315], Copyright 2020, Elsevier](/paper-figures/c93a28111ec1468490e4d6edf86cef8c/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-9.jpg)
![Fig. 10 Illustration of 2D magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for heavy metal removal. Reproduced with permission [345], Copyright 2019, Elsevier](/paper-figures/49209455682f466485ffb76a3306cacc/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-10.jpg)
![Fig. 11 A schematic explanation of UV irradiation for ciprofloxacin degradation on TiO2 immobilized on the surface of a glass plate. Reproduced with permission [362] Copyright 2020, Informa UK Limited](/paper-figures/9454f648610049b09442af3b4a7e8a5a/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-11.jpg)
![Fig. 12 Schematic illustration of the metal selenide and their photocatalytic activity. Reproduced with permission [467], Copyright 2020, Springer Nature](/paper-figures/043fa6941b414fb9800a038de9c450e0/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-12.jpg)
![Fig. 13 Schematic explanation of the removal of toxic heavy metal from wastewater through PVDF-based nanocomposite membranes. Reproduced with permission [495], Copyright 2020, Elsevier](/paper-figures/ec51c7f267d04743a8ff1dbc9e2d18ca/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-13.jpg)
![Fig. 14 The synthesis and application of sludge-based new adsorbents for the decontamination of wastewater. Reproduced with permission [526], Copyright 2016, Springer Nature](/paper-figures/dde63a02b42c4b599d323ec8212ba79d/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-14.jpg)
![Fig. 15 Schematic explanation, experimental setup, and mechanism of CQD/N-ZnO on dyes under natural daylight irradiation. Reproduced with permission [628], Copyright 2015, Elsevier](/paper-figures/8ef4372a3b214e0fae2c35d0ad2e1e69/covalent-and-non-covalent-functionalized-nanomaterials-for-environmental-figure-15.jpg)
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“Functional groups such as carboxyl (–COOH), amino (–NH2), hydroxyl (–OH), and thiol (–SH) can form strong coordinate or covalent bonds with heavy metal ions, producing stable inner-sphere complexes that enhance adsorption selectivity and capacity.”
From Emerging nanotechnology approaches for sustainable water treatment and heavy metals removal: a comprehensive review (2025) · cites this paper as [63]
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“Furthermore, surface functionalization strategies significantly increase the density and accessibility of active sites while improving structural stability and regeneration potential.63,64”
From Emerging nanotechnology approaches for sustainable water treatment and heavy metals removal: a comprehensive review (2025) · cites this paper as [63]
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Citations
Cites
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Hussein, E. B., Rasheed, F. A., Mohammed, A. S., & Kayani, K. F. (2025) · RSC Advances · doi:10.1039/d5ra06914a · Cited by 86
“63,64 The e ff ectiveness of adsorption depends on various parameters such as the surface area, pore structure, and functional groups of the adsorbent, as well as the physicochemical characteristics of the adsorbate.”
Metadata
- Authors
- Zhang, S., Malik, S., Ali, N., Khan, A., Bilal, M., & Rasool, K.
- Affiliations
- Huai'an University (CN)
- University of Peshawar (PK)
- Hamad bin Khalifa University (QA)
- Corresponding author
- Zhang, Shizhong
- Ali, Nisar
- Rasool, Kashif
- Venue
- Topics in Current Chemistry
- Published
- 2022-08-11
- Volume
- 380
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 44-44
- ISSN
- 2364-8961 (ISSN-L)
- 2365-0869
- PMC
- PMC9372017
- OpenAlex
- W4291020293
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 673
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 9
- FWCI
- 1.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2022-09-02)
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Topics in Current Chemistry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Qatar National Library (cc-by)
- Funders
- Government of Jiangsu Province (SJCX20_1332)
- Qatar National Library
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Keywords
- functionalized nanomaterials, covalent functionalization, non-covalent functionalization, environmental remediation, wastewater treatment, pollutant adsorption, photocatalytic degradation, carbon nanomaterials, metal oxide nanomaterials, quantum dots, nanocomposites, nanomaterial synthesis
- MeSH terms
- Water Purification, Nanotechnology, Nanostructures, Environmental Restoration and Remediation, Wastewater
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