Impact of humic/fulvic acid on the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions using nanomaterials: A review

Nowadays nanomaterials have been widely used to remove heavy metals from water/wastewater due to their large surface area and high reactivity. Humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) exist ubiquitously in aquatic environments and have a variety of functional groups which allow them to complex with meta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Science of the total environment 2014-01, Vol.468-469, p.1014-1027
Main Authors:	Tang, Wang-Wang, Zeng, Guang-Ming, Gong, Ji-Lai, Liang, Jie, Xu, Piao, Zhang, Chang, Huang, Bin-Bin
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Benzopyrans - chemistry Heavy metals Humic Substances Humic/fulvic acid Interaction mechanism Metals, Heavy - analysis Metals, Heavy - chemistry Molecular Structure Nanomaterials Nanostructures - chemistry Photochemistry Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry Water Purification - methods
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Summary:	Nowadays nanomaterials have been widely used to remove heavy metals from water/wastewater due to their large surface area and high reactivity. Humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) exist ubiquitously in aquatic environments and have a variety of functional groups which allow them to complex with metal ions and interact with nanomaterials. These interactions can not only alter the environmental behavior of nanomaterials, but also influence the removal and transportation of heavy metals by nanomaterials. Thus, the interactions and the underlying mechanisms involved warrant specific investigations. This review outlined the effects of HA/FA on the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions by various nanomaterials, mainly including carbon-based nanomaterials, iron-based nanomaterials and photocatalytic nanomaterials. Moreover, mechanisms involved in the interactions were discussed and potential environmental implications of HA/FA to nanomaterials and heavy metals were evaluated. •The review outlined heavy metals' removal from water by nanomaterials affected by HA/FA.•Potential mechanisms involved in the interactions were discussed.•Environmental implications of HA/FA to nanomaterials and heavy metals were evaluated.•Outlook for further challenges and potential development was also offered.
ISSN:	0048-9697 1879-1026