Nanostructured Materials for Improving Water Quality: Potentials and Risks

This chapter examines the most current information regarding metal contamination in water and the in situ remediation of inorganic contaminants, specifically chromium (Cr). It focuses on the use of Palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) for the catalytic conversion of Cr (VI) to Cr (III) using formic acid (FA) and sulfur. It utilized colloidal PdNPs as catalyst for the reduction of Cr (VI) to Cr (III). This chapter studies the reaction kinetics of Cr (VI) reduction and the effects of other parameters such as temperature, formic acid concentration, pH, Pd loading, and elemental hydrogen. Based on the experimental results, this approach has shown that colloidal PdNPs enhanced the reduction rate of Cr (VI) to Cr (III). The removal of 99.8 percent Cr (VI) from complex aqueous media using PdNPs was achieved within minutes as opposed to approximately 90 percent removal using Bioremediation-Pd method. Along with the discussion of their enormous technological and economic potential, this chapter also discusses the specific risks related to the environmental applications of nanomaterials.