Case studies of specific applications of smart nanomaterials for wastewater purification in South Africa

Wastewater from industrial processes or domestic use constitutes a social, health, and environmental malady that needs to be curbed. South Africa is faced with water stress that has called for water conservation. Over time, the norm has been to treat wastewater using contemporary water treatment processes for reuse or to reduce its toxicity before discharge to other channels. In most cases, these treatment processes have been unable to match the complex nature of today's wastewater, hence the quest for cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly smart materials for water purification processes. Therefore, this article looks at some self-grown efforts in South Africa aimed at developing and deploying smart nanomaterials for water purification. Most of the cases reviewed were controlled laboratory studies. The case study of South Africa is tractable for policymakers, researchers, and industry players. The studies showcase the opportunities for confronting environmental issues such as water purification using smart nanomaterials. The review identified time constraints, lack of environmental and health risk assessment of the developed smart nanomaterials, and deployment strategies for decentralized treatment plants as the major factors affecting large-scale use of the outcomes of these laboratory studies. This review subscribes to inclusive innovations by researchers and the use of real-life contaminated water and shifts to include life cycle analysis of novel smart nanomaterials usable for water purification.