Advanced Polymeric Hydrogels for Contaminant Removal and Microbial Inactivation: Sustainable Water Remediation Strategies and Applications

Advanced polymeric hydrogels have emerged as transformative materials for sustainable water remediation, offering multifunctional capabilities in contaminant removal and microbial inactivation. This review critically examines recent advancements in hydrogel-based technologies, focusing on their mechanisms of action, including adsorption, ion exchange, and antimicrobial activity, through tailored chemical architectures such as stimuli-responsive networks, nanocomposites, and dendrimer hybrids. Key innovations like cyclodextrin-functionalized hydrogels (organic micropollutant removal < 0.5 ng/mL) and chitosan-based systems (heavy metal adsorption > 500 mg/g) demonstrate exceptional efficiency. However, scalability, nanoparticle leaching, and trade-offs between selectivity and capacity hinder large-scale adoption. The review underscores the need for eco-conscious designs, emphasizing biodegradable polymers, magnetic recovery systems, and hybrid technologies integrating membranes or biofilters. Addressing economic, environmental, and practical limitations, this work provides a roadmap for transitioning laboratory breakthroughs into scalable solutions, ultimately advancing global water security amid escalating contamination threats.