Nanotechnology plays an important function in recent environmental aspects for the elimination of contaminants in the ecosystem. In recent times, nano-clay has initiated more concentration because of its distinctive physicochemical properties and characteristics. Recently, many types of research in clay-based nanocomposite were accomplished in the elimination of pollutants from water sources. Nanocomposite materials have advanced properties useful for contaminat removal such as higher surface area, thermal stability, selectivity to remove different contaminants, improved process ability, and fast decontamination. Thus, the development of clay-based composite materials is one of the upcoming directions to use effectively in water and wastewater treatment as adsorbent nanomaterials. This paper assesses the latest achievement in clay-based nanocomposite preparation, material property analysis and function for various pollutant removals. In particular, great consideration was paid to the recent progress in clay/metallic, clay-polymer, and clay-carbon composites presenting their application in the removal of different kinds of pollutants. Moreover, the mechanism of adsorption, the challenges and future perspective were also discussed to reach the optimum performance of the nanomaterials adsorbent. It is confirmed that clay-based nanocomposite materials are more cost-effective technology than conventional treatment methods.

The use of low cost materials in zeolite synthesis becomes an area of important interest in water softening. This research is aimed to utilize kaolin for zeolite synthesis with hydrothermal method. Mechanical, thermal chemical treatments of raw kaolin were used for zeolite synthesis. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), AAS, XRD, surface area (BET), Differential scanning calorimetry and TGA were used to characterize kaolin and zeolite and UV–VIS/ Spectrometer were used for adsorption capacity of ion exchange. Effect of contact time, PH solution and Temperature of the solution were studied for batch experiments. XRD values indicated that the prepared material is showed as fully crystalline and primarily amorphous. Before and after hardness removal sample transmittance percentage intensity showed a wide range of difference. From this study, it can be deduced that Zeolite uses as a low cost water softening agent. At room temperature, the residue is well with calcium and badly with magnesium, whereas affinity toward Mg ions increases to acceptable levels at 60 °C. The cation exchange capacity of zeolite was found to be dependent on contact time. The batch experiments of removing ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ show that the adsorption capacity of zeolite in calcium ion is higher affinity than magnesium ion.

Dyes and pigments have been used in many industries for colorization purpose but they pose hazards to the environment and end users of water. Therefore, it is important to remove this pollutant from waste water before their final disposal. This study aimed to investigate the removal of methylene blue by cost effective, ecofriendly, high-efficiency bio-sorbent from activated coffee husk. The process was carried out using chemical activation (H₃PO₄) process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and surface analyzer (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) were used to characterize the adsorbent. The specific surface area adsorbent was obtained as 28.54 m²/g. The maximum removal efficiency was obtained as 96.9% at pH of 5, initial dye concentration of 20 mg/L, adsorbent dosage of 0.8 g/50 mL, for contact time of 50 min and 30°C temperature on the activation surface of coffee husk. Langmuir model was found to fit the equilibrium data for methylene blue adsorption with 6.82 mg/g at 30°C. The adsorption process follows the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamics analysis showed that the adsorption of methylene blue on to the activated coffee husk was a spontaneous and endothermic process. The experimental data obtained in the present study proved that coffee husk is a suitable bio-sorbent in removal of cationic dyes.

Postharvest losses are known to be one of the serious constraints upon food security among farmers poor resource in Africa. The use of botanical insecticide in pest management during storage against weevils is often encouraged because synthetic insecticides produce multiple side effects on human and environment. In this study, the insecticidal property of methanol, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of Lantana camara leaf oil and powder for controlling maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais, was studied. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to identify the chemical composition and functional group of solvent extract, respectively. Adult weevil repellency and mortality were studied by the effect of oil concentration at 0% (w/w), 2% (w/w), 3% (w/w), 5% (w/w), 7% (w/w), and 10% (w/w). Repellency effect was also conducted at 6, 12, and 24 h. The number of weevil death increased significantly as exposed time was increased. The extracted oil by the three-solvent fraction had direct repellent and toxic effect to the weevil. From all treatment applied, extracted by methanol fraction had showed highest percentage mortality (74%). The lowest mortality rate was observed in ethyl acetate extract (26%) at 2% (w/w) concentration. The effect of leaf powder and extracted oil on repellency and mortality for insects was due to the presence of bioactive and phytochemical molecules such as Phytol, Pyrroline, Paromomycin, Pyrrolizin, and 1-Eicosano. It was concluded that both L. camara leaf powder and extract oil can be used for the protection of stored maize from infestation S. zeamais.

Natural fibers have the potential to replace synthetic fibers for making polymer composites due to their remarkable properties. Polyester is one of the core materiel used for textile and leather due to hydrophobic property. Sisal fibers have high strength among various naturals and can be used as the supporting material for polymers. A detailed experimental study was conducted for the extraction of sisal fiber and composite development. The fibers were treated by using 2%, 6%, and 10% NaOH concentrations within 24, 48, and 72 h soaking time. Composite was made from different sisal to polyester ratios of 20 : 80, 30 : 70, and 40 : 60 (w/w). Mechanical properties such as tensile strength and flexural strength of treated, untreated, and reinforced fibers were determined. Functional groups of both the treated and untreated sisal fibers were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal stability of sisal fiber was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The optimum tensile strength and bending strength of the composite were found at 44.0 MPa and 50.8 MPa for fiber with polyester ratio of 30 : 70, 6% NaOH concentration, and 48 h soaking time. It is confirmed that treated sisal fiber-reinforced polyester composites have better tensile and bending properties and lower water absorption than untreated fibers.

Excessive fluoride in potable groundwater is a serious health problem in rural areas of many developing countries. The presence of a small amount of fluoride in potable water is beneficial to human health, but a high amount (>1.5mg/L) has adverse effects. The present study is aimed to prepare a new cost-effective adsorbent of kaolin clay that can be used as a valuable defluoridating agent. Characterization of the prepared adsorbent was carried out using DSC, FTIR, TGA, and XRD. Also, the surface area of the adsorbent was measured by BET analysis. The clay was activated with concentrated H₂SO₄, and the effects of various experimental parameters such as temperature (25, 40, 50, and 60°C), pH (2, 4, 6, and 8), particle size (<0.075, 0.0750.15, and 0.150.30mm), contact time (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150min), and dose of the adsorbents (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5g) were investigated using a batch adsorption method. The specific surface area of raw and activated clay was found to be 10.598m²/g and 5.258m²/g, respectively. The optimum fluoride removal by both adsorbents was obtained at pH 4, temperature 50°C, particle size 0.075mm, and 60min. In both adsorbents, the degree of fluoride removal was increased with a decrease in the particle size of the adsorbent and increased contact time and dosage of the adsorbent. In all parameters, adsorption by activated clay was better than raw kaolin clay for retaining fluoride. The obtained data were well fitted with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models.