Wastewater treatment using nanodiamond and related materials

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are zero-dimensional (0D) carbon-based nanoparticles with SP³/SP²-hybridized carbon atoms that have shown great potential in wastewater treatment areas due to their high surface area, chemical stability, and unique adsorption properties. They can efficiently remove a wide range of pollutants from water, including heavy metals, organic compounds, and dyes via various mechanisms such as electrostatic interactions, π-π stacking, and ion exchange. NDs can be functionalized following different surface chemistries, enabling tailored surface properties and enhanced pollutant adsorption capabilities. This review covers recent research on the application of nanodiamonds in wastewater treatment domain with a major emphasis on adsorption, photocatalytic degradation, and membrane separation, highlighting their promising performances, challenges, and future directions.