Review and perspectives on the use of magnetic nanophotocatalysts (MNPCs) in water treatment

The integration of magnetic nanophotocatalysts (MNPCs) in water treatment technologies has recently received great attention due to the enhanced physical and chemical properties of these materials. Thanks to the introduction of a magnetic material into the nanocomposite, its separation can be easily performed through the application of external magnetic fields, thus obtaining more efficient, economic and environmentally friendly water purification processes. However, the successful implementation of the MNPCs-based water treatment technology needs the evaluation of several steps that are involved in the process. Therefore, this work presents a comprehensive review on the use of MNPCs in the treatment of polluted wastewaters with several organic pollutants including Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). The study of the specific photocatalytic properties of these materials, which are related to the synthesis methods employed in their formulation and determine their photocatalytic performance, are particularly analyzed. Moreover, the potential use of these materials as visible light photocatalysts is described and their magnetic recovery is highlighted. In addition, several guidelines and possible challenges that this technology might face in the near future are discussed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.