The Use of Silver Nanoparticles in Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment and Recycling

Abstract

The review paper deals with the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in water treatment and recycling systems and the presence of AgNPs in wastewater systems. In the water industry, AgNPs can be used in the water treatment process as new filter materials (layers applied to the membranes of various compositions) or as a gentle alternative to the existing drinking water disinfection (solar disinfection in combination with titanium). On the other hand, AgNPs also can be a certain risk to the ecosystem if they are released from such surface-treated materials or preparations into wastewater. The AgNPs, present in the wastewater, then penetrate to the wastewater treatment plants, where they can affect the treatment process itself, especially the sensitive biological nitrification process. Silver ions with antibacterial properties are effectively removed by wastewater treatment plants and no significant negative effect on the treatment process by higher concentrations of silver has been reported so far. With respect to the bioaccumulation capabilities of nanoparticles, it is important to focus primarily on assessing of the longer-term effects of AgNPs in the ecosystem and the aquatic environment.