1. Introduction2. Classification of water contaminants3. Water purification using various technologies and their advantages and disadvantages4. Adsorption in context of water purification5. Adsorption equilibrium isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics6. Effect of reaction parameters on the adsorption7. Carbon nanomaterials: Synthesis, functionalization and properties8. Zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials-based adsorbents9. One-dimensional carbon nanomaterials-based adsorbents10. Two-dimensional carbon nanomaterials-based adsorbents11. Multifunctional three-dimensional carbon nanomaterials-based adsorbents12. Biopolymer functionalized carbon nanomaterials-based adsorbents13. Conducting polymer functionalized carbon nanomaterials-based adsorbents14. Carbon-based nano/micromotors for adsorption15. Regeneration and recyclability of carbon nanomaterials after adsorption16. Toxicity of carbon nanomaterials17. Outlook and future research, development, and innovation directions