**14. Current scenario and challenges in adsorption for water treatment**

### **14.1 Emerging trends in green adsorbent research**

The future of the field of green adsorbents is being shaped by continuing research as well as several new trends. The following are some important developments in the study of green adsorbents:

#### *14.1.1 Adaptation and nanotechnology*

Researchers are looking into how nanotechnology might be used to increase the effectiveness and adsorption capacity of green adsorbents. The surface area, porosity, and reactivity of green adsorbents can be increased, resulting in improved adsorption performance. Nanoscale changes, such as the inclusion of nanoparticles or the functionalization of adsorbent surfaces, can achieve this [49].

#### *14.1.2 Hybrid materials*

Activated carbon, polymers, and nanoparticles are being combined with green adsorbents to create hybrid materials. To achieve better overall performance, these hybrid materials combine the benefits of many components, such as the environmental friendliness of green adsorbents and the high adsorption capacity of synthetic materials.

#### *14.1.3 Waste valorization*

Scientists are investigating the utilization of waste items as potential green adsorbents, such as agricultural byproducts, food waste, and biomass residues. By utilizing waste materials to create value-added adsorbents, this movement aims to address both the demand for sustainable water filtration technology and environmental concerns over waste management.

#### *14.1.4 Advanced characterization methods*

To better understand the adsorption mechanisms and behavior of green adsorbents, researchers are using advanced characterization methods like spectroscopy, microscopy, and computational modeling. This makes it possible to build and optimize adsorbent materials with better performance and property characteristics.

#### *14.1.5 Regeneration and re-usability*

Strategies for the regeneration and reusability of green adsorbents are currently being developed. These methods seek to recover pollutants that have been absorbed and restore the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents, lowering waste production and improving the process's efficiency and sustainability.

Although most research has been done in laboratories, there is rising interest in scaling up green adsorbent technology for use in real-world settings. To create affordable, effective, and efficient water filtration systems employing green adsorbents, researchers are exploring pilot-scale investigations [50].

These new trends highlight the growing significance of environmentally friendly and sustainable water filtration techniques. Researchers are working to create effective, affordable, and scalable green adsorbent technology for water treatment by addressing the limitations of green adsorbents and investigating novel methodologies [51].

#### **15. Conclusions**

In conclusion, natural-based green adsorbents present a viable strategy for water filtration. Sustainable, abundant, and potential for efficient pollution removal have made these eco-friendly adsorbents popular. The following are important points about using green adsorbents for water purification:

*Environmentally friendly and sustainable:* Green adsorbents reduce reliance on synthetic or non-renewable adsorbents by using natural materials like biomass, agricultural waste, or plant fibers. They provide a long-term fix with little harm to the environment.

*Versatile removal capabilities:* Green adsorbents have demonstrated efficacy in the removal of a wide range of contaminants from water, such as heavy metals, organic pollutants, dyes, medicines, and other inorganic compounds. Through changes and treatments, they can be customized and optimized for the removal of particular contaminants.

*Cost-effective:* Because they are readily available and have minimal production costs, green adsorbents are frequently commercially viable. A cost-effective solution for water filtration, many of these materials are leftovers or results of industrial or agricultural processes.

*Green adsorbents* have surface characteristics such as a large surface area, porosity, and functional groups that allow for adsorption through both chemical and physical interactions. These methods make it easier to remove impurities from water.

*Alternative water treatment methods:* To improve overall treatment effectiveness and address numerous contaminants, green adsorbents can be used in conjunction with alternative water treatment methods such as filtration, membrane processes, or advanced oxidation.

Although green adsorbents have a lot of commitment, their effectiveness may vary based on the contaminant, the water's chemistry, the adsorbent's properties, and the operational circumstances. To maximize their effectiveness, scalability, and potential regeneration for continuous usage, more study is still required. Overall, the use of

*Green Adsorbents for Water Purification DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.112652*

green adsorbents in water purification shows promise for offering long-term and practical solutions to problems with water pollution, helping to achieve the objective of providing communities with clean and safe water resources.
