Emerging Contaminants and Their Removal from Aqueous Media Using Conventional/Non-Conventional Adsorbents: A Glance at the Relationship between Materials, Processes, and Technologies

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are causing negative effects on the environment and even people, so their removal has become a priority worldwide. Adsorption associated technologies where this process occurs (filtration/biofiltration) have gained great interest, due to its low cost, easy operation, effectiveness mainly in (up 100%) of lipophilic ECs (log Kow > 4). Activated carbon continues be most efficient material (>850 mg/g). However, other conventional materials (activated carbon, clays, zeolites) non-conventional (agro-industrial/forestry/industrial residues, nanomaterials, among others) shown efficiencies greater than 90%. depends physicochemical properties ECs. Thus, physical/chemical/thermal modifications nanomaterial synthesis used procedures improve adsorption capacity. A with good adsorptive could efficiently filtration/biofiltration technologies. Agro-industrial residues promising alternatives these technologies, high availability, toxicity, capacities 350 In material, addition acting as adsorbent, plays fundamental role operation hydraulics. Therefore, selecting appropriate improves efficiency/useful life filter/biofilter.