Chemistry of Water Pollution: Sources, Mechanisms, and Remediation Strategies

Abstract

Water pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental concerns worldwide, with chemistry playing a pivotal role in understanding pollutant behavior, mechanisms of contamination, and remediation strategies. This review focuses on the chemical nature of major pollutants—heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and industrial effluents—while also addressing the chemical interactions between pollutants and aquatic systems. Emphasis is placed on mechanisms such as redox reactions, complex formation, hydrolysis, and photochemical degradation. Advanced treatment technologies, including adsorption, photocatalysis, electrochemical oxidation, and nanotechnology-based methods, are critically discussed. This article consolidates recent advances in chemical research on water pollution and provides directions for future studies.