https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02152-x
Review
Nanoclay–magnetic nanoparticle composites for decentralized water purification
1
Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics Named By N. Polyakov, NAS of Ukraine, Dnipro, Ukraine
2
Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), Kjeller, Norway
3
GIAMAG Technologies AS, Kjeller, Norway
a
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Received:
7
December
2025
Accepted:
17
January
2026
Published online:
29
January
2026
Abstract
Magnetic purification enables water treatment without membranes by combining selective surface chemistry with field-driven recovery of functional particles. Rather than forcing water through porous barriers that inevitably foul, magnetically responsive nanoparticles are dispersed directly in the aqueous phase, bind dissolved or suspended contaminants, and are collected through externally applied magnetic field gradients. This review presents the physical foundations of magnetophoresis and field-induced aggregation, together with recent developments in nanoclay–nanoparticle composite materials and open-channel magnetic architectures. Emphasis is placed on gradient engineering, regeneration physics, and transport phenomena under flow. Reported performance for the removal of hydrocarbons, dyes, and heavy metals is summarized, and available data on cycling stability and long-term durability are discussed. Life-cycle and sustainability aspects are examined, highlighting the advantages of regenerative operation and low chemical consumption. Overall, nanoclay–magnetic nanoparticle composites’ purification emerges as a physically grounded and practically scalable approach for local, near faucet water treatment.
© The Author(s) 2026
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
