MULTIFUNCTIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE NANOMATERIALS FOR EMERGENT POLLUTANT REMOVAL

The growing release of pollutants into water systems demands sustainable materials for efficient remediation. This work explores nanostructured materials as versatile tools for the selective capture and degradation of pollutants. Halloysite nanotubes were studied as low-cost adsorbents, with surface functionalization enhancing their interaction with contaminants. Their biocompatibility was evaluated using model lipid membranes. Magnetically responsive Pickering emulsions stabilized by wax and hematite microcubes were developed for smart pollutant capture and easy magnetic recovery. Finally, computational investigations on manganese oxide revealed photocatalytic degradation pathways of organic pollutants, using ibuprofen as a model compound. Together, these systems highlight the potential of tailored nanomaterials for integrated, sustainable water remediation strategies.