Chapter 25 - Role of natural compounds in metal removing strategies

Abstract

Heavy metals are considered inorganic pollutants. Urban areas and industrial processes release huge quantities of heavy metals that negatively influence the environment. Heavy metals are difficult to degrade. Moreover, their accumulation affects the texture and quality of the soil. Their biomagnification can disturb the survival and growth of aquatic flora and fauna. The conventional remediation strategies used for heavy metals include different physico-chemical methods. These have some drawbacks such as high costs, time-consuming protocols, the requirement for high-end machinery, and the generation of harmful byproducts. In search of alternative and innovative strategies, bioremediation is one of the safe and environment-friendly strategies that inclusively uses natural compounds to remove or recover heavy metals from contaminated soil and water that has gained the attention of researchers in last few decades. Heavy metal remediation can be achieved by natural compounds of microbial, insect, or plant origin. They can be used either in their native or modified form, which could help minimize the heavy metals concentration.