Bio- and Nanosorbents from Natural Resources

This book reviews the work in the field of nanoadsorbents derived from natural polymers, with a special emphasis on materials finding application in water remediation. It includes natural materials both with an organic or an inorganic skeleton, from which the nanomaterials can be made. Those nanomaterials can therefore be used to reinforce other matrices and in their pristine form have an extraordinary adsorption efficiency. Being of natural or biological origin, the materials described in this book distinguish themselves as eco-friendly and non-toxic.

The book describes how these benefits of the described materials can be combined and exploited. It will thus appeal to chemists, nanotechnologists, environmental engineers and generally all scientist working in the field of water pollution and remediation as an inspiration for the innovation toward new technologies.

Shivani Bhardwaj Mishra is a Professor at the Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (NanoWS) Research Unit in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology of the University of South Africa in Johannesburg. Prof. Bhardwaj received a PhD in Chemistry in 2003 from the Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, India, with a research focus on treatment and utilization of industrial waste. She had obtained her MSc in Organic Chemistry and BSc Chemistry from the University of Madras. After her PhD, she became Senior Research Fellow at the National Physical Lab, CSIR, New Delhi, focusing on the removal of toxic polyaromatic hydrocarbons from coal tar pitch and sol gel derived and polymer blend techniques for the production of nanomaterials and nanocompsites. In 2005 she joined the University of Free State, South Africa for Postdoctoral studies in the area of polymer composites/nanocomposites. Later in 2008 she moved on to the Department of Chemical Technology as a postdoctoral fellow working in the development pf strong nanocomposites from industrial waste. She was offered the position of Senior Lecturer in the same department. In 2012, she was promoted to Associate Professor at the department of Applied Chemistry (Chemical Technology). Prof. Bhardwaj Mishra is the leader of the research group for sol gel science and technology, polymer ceramic composites/nanocomposites, organic-inorganic hybrid systems and their application for water research.

Ajay Kumar Mishra is a Professor at the Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (NanoWS) Research Unit, in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at the University of South Africa in Johannesburg. He also holds a position as "Adjunct Professor" at Jiangsu University, China.

Prof. Mishra obtained his PhD in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Delhi in India. In 2006, he moved to the University of Free State, South Africa for Postdoctoral studies in the area of composites/nanocomposites. In 2009 he joined the Department of Applied Chemistry as a Senior Lecturer and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2011. Prof. Mishra is currently group leader of the research area for the composites/nanocomposites, water research and bio-inorganic chemistry.