Abstract

The rise of micropollutants presents a significant threat to both the environment and human well-being, requiring effective strategies for their mitigation. Chitin serves as the precursor for chitosan, composed of two monomers featuring acetamido and amino groups. Chitosan possesses several noteworthy attributes, including its ability to bind water and fat, humidity content, solubility, consistent molecular weight, and various degrees of deacetylation, all of which facilitate surface functionalization. To enhance quality and effectiveness, chitosan can be combined with other adsorbent and/or functional nanomaterials to produce chitosan-based nanocomposites with distinct functionalities for various applications. These nanocomposites offer unique advantages in combating environmental issues. Examples of such nanocomposites include chitosan-grafted carbon nanoonions, polymer–chitosan blends, chitosan–clay mineral composites, chitosan–graphene oxide nanocomposites, magnetic chitosan, chitosan-based foams and sponges, and chitosan/activated carbon composites. Each of these nanohybrid materials plays a crucial role in selectively removing specific types of environmental contaminants. This chapter provides a recent perspective on innovative chitosan-based nanohybrids designed for the elimination of impurities from the environment. These nanohybrids exhibit diverse functions, including adsorption of contaminants, humus removal, extraction of heavy metals and metal ions, and reduction of inanimate impurities such as nitrate, borate, and phosphate. The adsorption kinetics of these chitosan-based nanocomposites have also been thoroughly reviewed, offering valuable insights for further research. Additionally, a comparative analysis of different chitosan-supported composites is conducted to provide potential methodologies for enhancing efficacy and fostering the development of novel compounds for environmental remediation.

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Authors (8)