Review on Diatomite for Sustainable Technology: Recent Advances in Functionalization, Composite Development, and Multi-Scale Applications
Hossameldin Galal Mohamed Bakr
Diatomaceous
earth (DE), or diatomite, constitutes the fossilized silica frustules of
diatoms. Historically utilized as an industrial absorbent and filtration
medium, it has recently garnered significant attention as an advanced material
in nanotechnology and engineering. This transition is driven by its inherent
physicochemical properties, which include a hierarchically porous architecture,
high specific surface area, low density, and chemical stability, collectively
rendering it an effective natural micro- and nano-structured scaffold. This
review provides a systematic examination of the seminal scientific and
engineering progress in diatomite research from 2014 to 2025. The analysis is
structured around three primary themes: (1) the advancement of sophisticated
chemical, physical, and biological strategies for surface activation and
functionalization; (2) the rational design and fabrication of hybrid
diatomite-based composites incorporating polymeric, metallic, metal oxide, and
carbonaceous phases; and (3) the diversification of its application spectrum
into domains including catalysis, energy storage (e.g., Li-ion batteries,
supercapacitors), construction, environmental remediation, biomedical
engineering (e.g., drug delivery, biosensing), and thermal/acoustic management.
This work critically evaluates key performance indicators, synthesizes
prevalent characterization techniques, and incorporates sustainability analyses
from a life-cycle perspective.
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