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Volume 16
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10.3390/nano16171118
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Review

Phyto-Mediated Versus Conventional Nanomaterials for Environmental Remediation: Surface Chemistry, Removal Mechanisms, Performance, and Sustainability

by
Farhah Elfadel Omer
1,
Aliaa Alrashidi
2,
Akeem Omolaja Akinfenwa
3,
Amani M. Alansi
4,
Mohammed S. Alotaibi
1,
Adebayo Adekunle Rasheed
5,
Bader Alharbi
1,
Fatehia S. Alhakami
1,
Idris K. Popoola
6 and
Talal F. Qahtan
1,*
1
Physics Department, College of Science and Humanities in AI-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Physics, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia
3
Department of Chemical Science, School of Science, Yaba College of Technology, P.M.B 2011, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria
4
Chemistry Department, College of Science, Taiz University, Taiz 12372, Yemen
5
Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
6
Et al. Technologies Limited, Gbagada 100234, Lagos State, Nigeria
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(17), 1118; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16171118
Submission received: 23 July 2026 / Revised: 21 August 2026 / Accepted: 27 August 2026 / Published: 4 September 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green and Sustainable Nanomaterials for Emerging Pollutant Remediation)
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Abstract

Nanomaterials have emerged as key platforms for environmental remediation owing to their tunable surface chemistry, high specific surface area, and multifunctional physicochemical properties. This review provides a critical comparison between conventional nanomaterials (CNMs) and phyto-mediated nanomaterials (PMNs), with particular emphasis on material design, surface chemistry, pollutant removal mechanisms, environmental performance, and sustainability. CNMs, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials, and hybrid nanocomposites, offer excellent adsorption, photocatalytic, redox, and antimicrobial performance but remain constrained by concerns regarding toxicity, environmental persistence, and energy-intensive synthesis. PMNs provide a greener alternative by integrating plant-derived surface chemistry with nanomaterial functionality, potentially reducing reliance on hazardous synthesis reagents while modifying interfacial interactions relevant to environmental remediation. The review critically discusses the mechanistic roles of adsorption, surface complexation, photocatalytic degradation, electron-transfer processes, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in pollutant removal. Recent advances in water purification, soil and groundwater remediation, carbon sequestration, and climate-related environmental applications are comprehensively summarized. Finally, current challenges associated with reproducibility, scalability, environmental safety, life-cycle assessment, and regulatory considerations are critically analyzed, together with future perspectives toward the rational design of sustainable nanomaterials for next-generation environmental remediation technologies.
Keywords: nanomaterials; phyto-mediated synthesis; green nanotechnology; surface chemistry; environmental remediation; water treatment; adsorption; photocatalysis; sustainability nanomaterials; phyto-mediated synthesis; green nanotechnology; surface chemistry; environmental remediation; water treatment; adsorption; photocatalysis; sustainability
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MDPI and ACS Style

Omer, F.E.; Alrashidi, A.; Akinfenwa, A.O.; Alansi, A.M.; Alotaibi, M.S.; Rasheed, A.A.; Alharbi, B.; Alhakami, F.S.; Popoola, I.K.; Qahtan, T.F. Phyto-Mediated Versus Conventional Nanomaterials for Environmental Remediation: Surface Chemistry, Removal Mechanisms, Performance, and Sustainability. Nanomaterials 2026, 16, 1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16171118

AMA Style

Omer FE, Alrashidi A, Akinfenwa AO, Alansi AM, Alotaibi MS, Rasheed AA, Alharbi B, Alhakami FS, Popoola IK, Qahtan TF. Phyto-Mediated Versus Conventional Nanomaterials for Environmental Remediation: Surface Chemistry, Removal Mechanisms, Performance, and Sustainability. Nanomaterials. 2026; 16(17):1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16171118

Chicago/Turabian Style

Omer, Farhah Elfadel, Aliaa Alrashidi, Akeem Omolaja Akinfenwa, Amani M. Alansi, Mohammed S. Alotaibi, Adebayo Adekunle Rasheed, Bader Alharbi, Fatehia S. Alhakami, Idris K. Popoola, and Talal F. Qahtan. 2026. "Phyto-Mediated Versus Conventional Nanomaterials for Environmental Remediation: Surface Chemistry, Removal Mechanisms, Performance, and Sustainability" Nanomaterials 16, no. 17: 1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16171118

APA Style

Omer, F. E., Alrashidi, A., Akinfenwa, A. O., Alansi, A. M., Alotaibi, M. S., Rasheed, A. A., Alharbi, B., Alhakami, F. S., Popoola, I. K., & Qahtan, T. F. (2026). Phyto-Mediated Versus Conventional Nanomaterials for Environmental Remediation: Surface Chemistry, Removal Mechanisms, Performance, and Sustainability. Nanomaterials, 16(17), 1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16171118

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