Abstract
In both aquatic and terrestrial environment, selenium contamination may exist at concentrations above the micronutrient limit. Since there is such a narrow bandwidth between which selenium concentration is acceptable, the health of the public may be at risk of selenium toxicity once the concentration increases beyond a threshold. Selenium contamination in an aqueous environment can occur due to anthropogenic activities and/or from natural sources. This study presents a review of the forms of selenium, inorganic and organic selenium contamination, mobilization, analytical methods for various forms of selenium and remediation strategies. The review also provides recent advances in removal methods for selenium from water including bioremediation, precipitation, coagulation, electrocoagulation, adsorption, nano-zerovalent iron, iron co-precipitation and other methods. A review of selenomethionine and selenocysteine removal strategy from industrial wastewaters is presented. Selenium resource recovery from copper ore processing has been discussed. Various analytical methods used for selenium and heavy metal analysis were compared. Importantly, existing knowledge gaps were identified and prospective areas for further research were recommended.
Highlights
Selenium, a metalloid compound that possesses intermediate characteristics of metals and non-metals, was first discovered by Jons Jacob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist, in the year 1818 [1]
This paper focuses on the current understanding of selenium remediation techniques, selenium mobilization and contamination in the environment, with emphasis on organic selenium
Key highlights of the main aspects that relate to selenium speciation in water, circulation in the environment, toxicity, analysis and remediation from wastewaters and industrial effluents were presented
Summary
A metalloid compound that possesses intermediate characteristics of metals and non-metals, was first discovered by Jons Jacob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist, in the year 1818 [1] It belongs to the same group (chalcogen) as oxygen and is next to sulfur in the periodic table of elements. Some of the health benefits of selenium include its role in the proper functioning of the heart, as an antioxidant and for detoxification of the body system [2], its anti-cancer effect [3,4], decrease in heart disease [5], antiviral agent [6] and lower response to influenza infections [7]. Research gaps were identified and prospective areas for future studies were recommended
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