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Nanomaterials for Environmental Science: A Recent and Future Perspective

Sukanchan Palit1 and Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain2

1University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Department of Chemical Engineering, Energy Acres, Post-Office-Bidholi via Premnagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248007, India

2New Jersey Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, University Heights, Newark, NJ 07102, USA

1.1 Introduction

Chemical process engineering, environmental science, and materials science are moving toward newer challenges. Destruction of environment and loss of biodiversity have worried the scientific community to gear their efforts toward finding innovative technologies. This treatise, with cogent insight, discusses lucidly the application of nanomaterials in environmental protection. The vision and the challenge of human scientific endeavor are wide and versatile. The success of human civilization today stands amid a deep scientific introspection. Man's immense prowess, mankind's scientific rigor, and the civilization's urge for scientific progress will go a long way in true emancipation of environmental science. The immense potential of nanotechnology is elucidated in detail in this well-informed treatise. The success, the immense scientific and academic rigor, and the futuristic vision of environmental science are the torchbearers of a newer visionary era of science and engineering. In this treatise, the authors pointedly focus on the application of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in environmental engineering science. Chemical process engineering and materials engineering are connected like an umbilical cord to environmental engineering and its challenges. The scientific sagacity and deep scientific understanding in the application of nanomaterials in environmental protection are ushering in a new era. The authors of this book focus on the application of nanoscience and nanotechnology to environmental engineering and pollution abatement.

1.2 The Aim and Objective of the Study

Human civilization today stands at twilight of scientific vision and understanding. The rigors of science and engineering are immense, as mankind is undergoing a wider realization of the sustainability of environment. The aim and the objective of this study is to discuss the greater vision of and challenges in the application of nanomaterials in environmental protection. The success and potential of environmental engineering science are inimitable. Today, environment is under a state of great distress as ecological imbalance and frequent man-made disasters are destroying the very fabric of our environment. The cause of biodiversity is crossing scientific frontiers. Civilization stands amid great scientific understanding as well as misdemeanor. The challenges of environmental engineering need to be readdressed in every possible way. Traditional and nontraditional environmental engineering techniques are veritable scientific endeavors. This treatise aims at the nontraditional techniques of environmental engineering and the novel separation processes of chemical process engineering and targets the immense potential of these techniques. Environmental sustainability and holistic sustainable development are the cornerstones of this research endeavor.

1.2.1 The Need, the Rationale, and the Scope of the Study

Science is a colossus with a vast vision of its own. Environmental engineering concerns are plaguing the world scientific community. Frequent environmental disasters and loss of biodiversity have goaded the scientists and engineers to work toward newer innovations and challenges. The immediate need and the challenge of science need to be readdressed and reenvisioned as scientific rigor moves toward a newer paradigm. In the crucial juxtaposition of science and technology today, environmental engineering science gains new heights. The paradigm of engineering science is targeted toward the protection of environment. Technological innovations and technological motivations are in a state of distress today as protection of environment is in a process of immense failure. In such a situation, new vision and innovation are the veritable need of the day. Environmental science is in the process of new scientific regeneration. Human civilization is also in the process of wide realization of environmental and energy sustainability.

The scope of this well-informed study goes beyond scientific imagination and understanding. The challenge of applications of nanotechnology, nontraditional environmental engineering techniques, and novel separation processes needs to be rebuilt and readdressed as scientific and academic rigor moves toward a visionary scientific avenue. The challenge of this research work is surpassing visionary frontiers as science and engineering overcomes one hurdle after another in chemical process engineering and environmental engineering science.

1.3 Scientific Vision and Cognizance in the Field of Nanotechnology

Scientific vision and cognizance in the field of nanotechnology are groundbreaking as science and engineering move from one paradigm to another. Today, nanotechnology is a visionary area of research pursuit. The scientific challenges is immense in the field of nanotechnology as science and engineering crosses one visionary boundary after another. Nanoscience and nanotechnology today are linked with the wide area of environmental engineering science. Technological vision is the order of the day today. Nanotechnology and groundwater remediation are the areas of science that are being challenged in today's scientific horizon. Chemical process engineering and materials engineering are witnessing futuristic challenges. Water shortages and global water crisis are paving the way for a newer vision for the future.

1.4 Frontiers of Nanotechnology and the Vision for the Future

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the visionary and far-reaching areas of science and engineering. Today, nanotechnology research has links with chemical process engineering and environmental engineering science. The success of application of nanotechnology to society and mankind goes beyond scientific imagination. Technological advancements today are in a state of immense shortcomings and unbelievable challenges. In a similar vein, nanotechnology and nanomaterials are facing immense challenges in their application domain. A scientist's defined prowess, science's immense rigor, and the futuristic vision are today leading a long way in true realization of environmental sustainability and sustainable development. Frontiers of nanotechnology are gaining new heights and revolutionary scientific outcomes. The success of science and engineering of nanomaterials are immense and unimaginable as human civilization moves from one chapter to another. Technology and engineering today are the boon to human civilization and human scientific endeavor. Today, environment stands in the midst of deep distress and wide introspection. The challenge of protecting environment needs to be addressed and deeply comprehended with each step of human life. Nanotechnology vision is the torchbearer of a greater visionary tomorrow in the research pursuit of science and engineering. The vision for the future in the vast and versatile domain of nanotechnology is far-reaching and crossing enigmatic scientific frontiers. This research treatise provides gainful insights into the pursuit toward environmental protection, chemical process engineering, and nanotechnology.

1.5 The Vision and Advancements in the Field of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology in today's world is moving at a rapid pace toward a newer scientific frontier. The challenge, the vision, and the potential of application of nanotechnology in environmental protection need to be readdressed as human civilization moves toward a newer realm. Nanotechnology has a wider vision as scientific vision and deep scientific understanding assumes immense importance in this century. Human scientific vision is powered by a definite scientific grit and determination. The true challenge that lies in the field of nanotechnology is its immense scientific potential, scientific vision, and deep scientific understanding. The success of the domain of nanotechnology has opened up new avenues of scientific challenges and scientific ingenuity in years to come.

1.6 Recent Scientific Endeavor in the Field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

The world of nanotechnology and environmental science are witnessing drastic changes. In today's scientific scenario, nanotechnology has an unsevered umbilical cord with environmental engineering science. This treatise goes beyond deep scientific imagination. The success and potential of nanotechnology are ushering in a new dawn of scientific endeavor and fortitude. The authors pointedly focus on the success of application of nanotechnology in environmental protection and environmental engineering science as a whole. The challenge and the scientific rigor need to be envisioned as human civilization moves toward a newer visionary age. This section widely observes the recent scientific research pursuit in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology with special emphasis on the application of nanotechnology in environmental protection.

National Nanotechnology Initiative Workshop [1] in a well-informed report delineates nanomaterials and the environment, instrumentation, metrology, and analytical methods. Nanotechnology holds immense promise of exciting new solutions and innovations to critical scientific, industrial, and...