Challenges, Commercial Prospects, and Future Directions in Nano/Microfiber Technology-Based Environmental Remediation

Abstract

The trend towards growing water and air pollution problems, brought on by increased industrialization and urbanization, has highlighted the need for innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions for environmental remediation. One of the most promising platforms for meeting these challenges is nano/microfiber-based systems, especially those prepared via electrospinning and its variants, owing to the high surface area and porosity, as well as their variability and versatility. This chapter critically reviews major technical challenges, potential market, and outlook of nano/microfiber technology for environmental remediation. This spans the major areas of remediation (water, soil, air, oil spill and agricultural runoff), and critically examines the factors hindering adoption, such as scale-up, product reproducibility, material stability, fouling, and cost. The chapter embeds a life cycle perspective (LCA) to assess environmental impacts over the entire cradle-to-grave cycle. The chapter also highlights key market gaps in industrial water purification, personal protective equipment (PPE), marine pollution prevention, and farm runoff filtration, reviews the intellectual property landscape, supply chain management, and cost competitiveness with traditional fiber materials. Finally, the chapter highlights the future research prospects in smart/responsive fibers, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven production optimization, solvent-free and green synthesis, multifunctional hybrid nanoparticle composites, and coupling with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The chapter concludes with policy recommendations for regulatory harmonization and a path forward for commercializing nano/microfiber technologies in a sustainable environmental remediation future.