Novel and modified materials for wastewater treatment applications

In response to the ever growing need for more effective techniques for wastewater cleanup, a vast number of alternative adsorbents and ion exchangers have been synthesised in recent years. These include biological compounds, minerals, modified activated carbons, as well as industrial and agricultural wastes. Maintaining low costs and simplicity in both synthesis and implementation have been the main objectives of the research. The classes of materials which have been developed and a summary of their performance is presented here. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2008.