MXene-based nanomaterials as adsorbents for wastewater treatment: a review on recent trends

Abstract

The wastewater treatment is a challenging research area to reduce the increasing pressure on limited fresh water resources. Amongst several techniques adopted and practiced, adsorption is one of the most effective and sustainable eco-friendly processes. In recent years, MXene nanomaterials, a new family of transition metal carbides, have gained increasing attention as the potential adsorbent for pollutants due to their unique features such as large surface area with abundant active sites and hydrophilicity. A wide range of pollutants viz. heavy metal ions, organic dyes, radionuclides, and toxic gas molecules have been sensed by 2D MXenes. An inclusive understanding on the adsorptive behavior of MXene-based materials is needed to explain the removal mechanism and effects of different adsorption parameters. This review gives a general overview on recent research progress on MXene materials with special reference to their applications for the adsorptive removal of different pollutants. The general trends in the synthesis of MXenes, their stability and different factors affecting the adsorption process along with the main challenges in understanding the full potential of MXenes for environmental applications are discussed.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

MXene / adsorption / wastewater treatment / heavy metal / radionuclide

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