Nanobioremediation of heavy metals: Perspectives and challenges

Abstract

AbstractSustainable agriculture and humanity's civilization rest upon valuable natural resources such as earth and water, which have gone maximal exploitation and have been deteriorated by human activities. Heavy metals are natural components and one of the major pollutants of our environment, with a high atomic number and five times the density of water. The conventional physicochemical treatments for metal removal being cost‐intensive, have naturally paved the way for bioremediation, which is an attractive and economical alternative. Over the last few years, bionanotechnology has emerged as a useful tool in the remediation of heavy metals. The elimination of heavy metals continues to be a burning issue in research, and nanomaterials provide a particular affinity as well as high surface area for heavy metal adsorption. A chemically engineered nanoparticle can be expensive and also requires the use of toxic agents which may be undesirable for the environment. To cut the cost and produce clean, ecofriendly nanoparticles, biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles can be accomplished with the help of different microorganisms as well as plants, which can be further exploited for heavy metal remediation.