Heavy　metal　ions　and　organic　pollutants　cause　irreversible　damage　to　water　environment,　thereby　posing　significant　threats　to　the　well-being　of　organisms.　The　techniques　of　adsorption　and　photocatalytic　degradation　offer　versatile　solutions　for　addressing　water　pollution　challenges,　attributed　to　their　inherent　sustainability　and　adaptability.　Silicates　exhibit　exceptional　practicality　in　the　realm　of　environmental　protection　owing　to　their　structural　integrity　and　robust　chemical/thermal　stability　during　hybridization　and　application　process.　Furthermore,　the　abundance　of　silicate　reserves,　coupled　with　their　proven　effectiveness,　has　garnered　significant　attention　in　recent　years.　This　detailed　review　compiles　and　analyzes　the　extensive　body　of　literature　spanning　the　past　six　years　(2018-2023),　emphasizing　the　pivotal　discoveries　associated　with　employing　silicates　as　water　purification　materials.　This　review　article　provides　a　comprehensive　overview　of　the　structure,　classification,　and　chemical　composition　of　diverse　silicates　and　offers　a　thorough　descriptive　analysis　of　their　performance　in　eliminating　pollutants.　Additionally,　the　utilization　of　diatomite　as　either　precursors　or　substrates　for　silicates,　along　with　the　exploration　of　their　corresponding　purification　mechanisms　is　discussed.　The　review　unequivocally　verifies　the　efficiency　of　silicates　and　their　composites　in　the　effective　elimination　of　various　toxic　pollutants.　However,　the　development　of　novel　silicates　capable　of　adapting　to　diverse　environmental　conditions　to　enhance　pollution　control,　remains　an　urgent　necessity.　©　2024　The　Author(s).　Published　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.