Even at very low concentrations, exposure to mercury or its complexes can have dangerous effects on living organisms and result in conditions that affect humans. It is essential to develop new, more efficient methods for removing mercury from the environment, particularly aqueous systems. One of the most effective techniques of water treatment is adsorption because of its simplicity in design and ease of operation. Several adsorbents have been used for the uptake of water and wastewater pollutants. Nanomaterials have drawn a lot of interest in water quality monitoring and decontamination because of their distinctive physical and chemical properties, such as high surface area, superior porous structure, cost effectiveness, and ease of modification and regeneration. Nanomaterials are materials with a particle size of between 1 and 100 nm. This study was aimed at reviewing the latest advancements on the use of nanoadsorbents, a novel technological nanomaterial, to remove toxic mercury (II) ions (Hg2+) from the aqueous environment. The application and performance of the various reported classes of nanoadsorbents used in the treatment of Hg2+-contaminated water were presented and evaluated. The isotherm and kinetic modeling, as well as many factors influencing the adsorption process, including temperature, pH, and adsorbent dosage, among others, were also covered. To emphasize the nanoadsorbents' economic significance, desorption and recyclability were also addressed. Furthermore, the review discussed the prospects and challenges of using nanoadsorbents to remove Hg2+ from water.
