Adsorption is considered as one of the effective techniques for the removal of heavy metals. In this direction, nanomaterials offer a huge surface area to enhance the adsorption capacity. Surface properties of the nanomaterials regulate the interfacial interactions among adsorbent, solvent and adsorbate. Here surface modifications play an important role to tune these interfacial interactions. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) covalently modify the surface with a wide range of surface chemistry (functional groups), which in turn regulate its hydrophobicity and charge. In this review, the strategies for the formation of various SAMs are highlighted. The effects of SAMs on the surface properties of the nanomaterials are deliberated. The implications of the modified nanomaterials prepared from biomass, silica, metals, carbon nanotubes, polymers and composites as nano-adsorbents particularly towards the removal of heavy metals are discussed. The effects of various factors like surface area, ionic strength, functional groups and electronegativity of metal ions are statistically related to the adsorption capacity of heavy metals. The affinity of a functional group towards a particular heavy metal from the individual and mixture of metals is underlined. Various desorption methods and reusability of the modified nanomaterials are summarized.

吸附被认为是去除重金属的有效技术之一。在这个方向上，纳米材料提供了巨大的表面积以增强吸附能力。纳米材料的表面性质调节吸附剂，溶剂和被吸附物之间的界面相互作用。在此，表面修饰在调整这些界面相互作用方面起着重要作用。自组装单分子层（SAMs）通过多种表面化学（官能团）共价修饰表面，进而调节其疏水性和电荷。在这篇综述中，重点介绍了形成各种SAM的策略。研究了SAM对纳米材料表面性能的影响。由生物质，二氧化硅，金属，碳纳米管制备的改性纳米材料的含义，讨论了作为纳米吸附剂的聚合物和复合材料，特别是针对重金属的去除。金属离子的表面积，离子强度，官能团和电负性等各种因素的影响在统计上与重金属的吸附能力有关。强调了官能团对来自金属的单独和混合的特定重金属的亲和力。总结了改性纳米材料的各种脱附方法和可重复使用性。强调了官能团对来自金属的单独和混合的特定重金属的亲和力。总结了改性纳米材料的各种脱附方法和可重复使用性。强调了官能团对来自金属的单独和混合的特定重金属的亲和力。总结了改性纳米材料的各种脱附方法和可重复使用性。