| Abstract | Problemi vezani uz onečišćenje okoliša poznati su od davnina. S intenzivnim razvojem industrije i zbog sve većeg utjecaja različitih antropogenih učinaka na okoliš dolazi do sve izraženijeg onečišćenja zraka, vode i tla te do narušavanja kvalitete života i prirodne bioraznolikosti. Zbog toga je važno utjecati na ljudsku svijest i smanjiti neželjene antropogene utjecaje na sve ekosustave, jer u suprotnom svijetu prijeti ekološka katastrofa, čiji smo svjedoci već danas. Trenutno postoje različiti pristupi smanjenju onečišćenja okoliša, koji u manjoj ili većoj mjeri pridonose rješavanju navedenih problema. Svaki takav pristup ima svoje prednosti i nedostatke, a željeni cilj se često pokušava ostvariti i kombinacijom različitih metoda i tehnologija. U novije vrijeme, sve stroži kriteriji zaštite okoliša koji su propisani nacionalnim i europskim zakonodavstvom nameću potrebu za poboljšanjem postojećih i razvojem novih učinkovitijih metoda i tehnologija. Prema mišljenju mnogih znanstvenika i stručnjaka znanost i tehnologija imat će važnu ulogu u razvoju naprednih metoda, alata i tehnika neophodnih za rješavanje specifičnih kvantitativnih i kvalitativnih problema u zaštiti okoliša. Posebno velika očekivanja postavljaju se na razvoj nanotehnologija, čime će se unaprijediti postojeće stanje i omogućiti budući razvoj održivih i ekološki prihvatljivih tehnologija. Trenutno se razvijaju različiti nanomaterijali i na njima utemeljene tehnologije, koji su prikladni za sanaciju onečišćenja u okolišu, najčešće zbog velike specifične površine i visoke reaktivnosti. Primjenom takvih materijala postižu se i bolji rezultati, jer zbog veće interakcije s onečišćujućim tvarima ili onečišćivalima dovode do brzog smanjenja koncentracije neželjenog onečišćenja u okolišu. Međutim, osim pozitivnih, postoje i negativni učinci zbog kojih takvi materijali u nekim situacijama mogu predstavljati rizik za okoliš i ljudsko zdravlje. Zbog toga je, kao i kod tradicionalnih tehnologija, potrebno unaprijed predvidjeti potencijalne opasnosti vezane uz njihovu primjenu te ih na vrijeme spriječiti. U ovom preglednom radu bit će analizirani specifični primjeri primjene naprednih nanomaterijala i na njima utemeljenih tehnologija, uključujući nano-adsorpciju, nano-filtraciju, nano-fotokatalizu te primjenu magnetskih nanočestica i nanosenzora. Poseban naglasak bit će dan na njihovu primjenu za pročišćavanje voda i otpadnih voda, pročišćavanje zraka i uklanjanje ostalih vrsta onečišćivala/zagađivala iz okoliša. S obzirom na brojne mogućnosti primjene takve tehnologije smatraju se zelenim tehnologijama i učinkovitim alatima za postizanje održivog razvoja. Osim pregleda postojećeg stanja u razvoju navedenih nanomaterijala, u ovom preglednom radu bit će razmatran i učinak nanotehnologija na zdravlje ljudi te analizirane mogućnosti sprječavanja mogućih rizika vezanih uz ljudsko zdravlje i kvalitetu života ljudi. |
| Abstract (english) | Problems related to environmental pollution have been known for a very long time. With the intensive development of industrial production and due to the increasing influence of various anthropogenic impacts on the environment, there is an increasing pollution of air, water, and soil, as well as an impairment of quality of life and natural biodiversity. Therefore, it is important to raise human awareness of the issue and reduce unwanted anthropogenic impacts on all ecosystems, since otherwise the world is threatened by an ecological catastrophe, which we are already witnessing today. There are currently different approaches to reducing environmental pollution, which, to a greater or lesser extent, contribute to solving the problem. Each of these approaches has its advantages and disadvantages, and the desired goal is often tried to be achieved by combining different methods and technologies. More stringent environmental protection criteria recently prescribed by national and European legislation nowadays impose a need to improve the existing and develop new, more efficient methods and technologies. According to many scientists and experts, science and technology will play a significant role in the development of advanced methods, tools and techniques necessary to solve specific quantitative and qualitative problems in environmental protection. Particularly high expectations are placed on the development of nanotechnologies, which will improve the current situation and enable the future development of sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies. Nowadays, various nanomaterials and technologies based on them are being developed, suitable for remediation of environmental pollution, most often due to their large specific surface area and high reactivity. The use of such materials achieves better results, since due to the greater interaction with polluting substances or pollutants they lead to a rapid reduction in the concentration of unwanted pollution in the environment. However, beside these positive effects, there are also negative ones whereby such materials in certain circumstances can pose a risk to the environment and human health. Therefore, as with traditional technologies, it is necessary to anticipate potential hazards related to their application and prevent them in advance. The present review paper will analyse specific examples of the application of advanced nanomaterials and technologies based on them, including nano-adsorption, nano-filtration, nano-photocatalysis, and the application of magnetic nanoparticles and nanosensors. Special emphasis will be placed on their ability to purify water and wastewater, as well as the air, and to remove other different types of polluting substances/pollutants from the environment. Given the many possibilities of their application, such technologies are considered to be green and effective tools for achieving sustainable development. In addition to reviewing the current state of development of the said nanomaterials, the present review paper will also consider the impact of nanotechnologies on human health and analyse the possibilities for preventing possible risks related to human health and quality of life. |
