Water Purification Emplyoing Nanocomposites: Mechanism and Fabrication Strategies

Porous ceramic nanocomposites offer a combination of properties that most polymeric membranes cannot match: thermal and chemical durability from the ceramic matrix, and surface-level tunability from the nanoscale fillers. This review covers the fabrication strategies, purification mechanisms, and practical applications of these materials. Ceramic systems based on alumina, zirconia, silica, and titania are examined alongside nanofillers including carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, metal oxides, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Fabrication routes from conventional sintering and sol-gel processing through to electrospinning, atomic layer deposition, and additive manufacturing are assessed for their effect on pore architecture, surface chemistry, and transport behaviour. The purification mechanisms covered are adsorption, size-based sieving, photocatalytic degradation, and antimicrobial activity, including where these work together in nanocomposite systems. Performance across permeability, selectivity, fouling resistance, and chemical stability is compared against polymeric and monolithic ceramic membranes using laboratory, pilot, and commercial data. Applications in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, desalination, oil-water separation, and decentralised systems are reviewed. Challenges that remain unresolved include fabrication cost, nanoparticle leaching, long-term durability, and regulatory compliance. Open research questions centre on green synthesis, stimuli-responsive designs, digital manufacturing, and integration with broader treatment systems.