Cleaner and Greener Nanotechnology Based Approaches for Wastewater Remediation

<jats:p>Water, a ubiquitous molecule (H2 O), is the essence of life on Earth (Morrison et al., 2020). Its unique physicochemical properties, notably its exceptional solvent power, make it indispensable for all biological processes (Rubilar et al., 2020). However, the availability of clean freshwater, vital for human and ecosystem health, is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic (human&amp;#2;caused) contamination (Gitis and Hankins, 2018; Hodges et al., 2018). Several human activities contribute to this global challenge. Inadequate wastewater treatment facilities allow untreated sewage to enter waterways, introducing harmful pathogens and nutrients that disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Industrial discharges often contain hazardous substances, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants, further compromising water quality (Umar et al., 2019a; Elbeltagi et al., 2021). Unsustainable agricultural practices, including excessive fertilizer use and pesticide discharge, also contribute to water pollution. Additionally, the dumping of waste materials, including plastics and radioactive elements, into oceans and other water bodies poses a significant long-term hazard (Jiang et al., 2019; Edokpayi et al., 2020)</jats:p>