Innovations and challenges in adsorption-based wastewater remediation: A comprehensive review

Water contamination is an escalating emergency confronting communities worldwide. While traditional adsorbents have laid the groundwork for effective water purification, their selectivity, capacity, and sustainability limitations have driven the search for more advanced solutions. Despite many technological advancements, economic, environmental, and regulatory hurdles challenge the practical application of advanced adsorption techniques in large-scale water treatment. Integrating nanotechnology, advanced material fabrication techniques, and data-driven design enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have led to a new generation of optimized, high-performance adsorbents. These advanced materials leverage properties like high surface area, tailored pore structures, and functionalized surfaces to capture diverse water contaminants efficiently. With a focus on sustainability and effectiveness, this review highlights the transformative potential of these advanced materials in setting new benchmarks for water purification technologies. This article delivers an in-depth exploration of the current landscape and future directions of adsorbent technology for water remediation, advocating for a multidisciplinary approach to overcome existing barriers in large-scale water treatment applications.