Use of Agricultural Waste-Based Biosorbents for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solution: A Review

Abstract

Agriculture is the immemorial benefaction of man for the existence and welfare of the human race. Being an agricultural country, it is the prime source of livelihood in India. This review focused on the present scenario of Indian Agriculture with respect to crop production, factors affecting productivity, and agricultural waste-related issues in India. Agrowaste can be helpful to farmers but economic costs are less than the cost of collection, transportation, and processing for profitable use. In this consequence, the review has presented considerable information on the alternative use of agrowaste to control water pollution. The review focused the light on the replacement of conventional chemicals with agro-based waste to develop fully green and sustainable biosorbents. It also highlighted the potential of biosorbents and biosorption technology in terms of their adsorption capacities, cost-effectiveness, binding mechanisms, and interfering factors such as pH, temperature, initial concentration, dose, and pre-treatments. Biosorption isotherms and sorption kinetics models were used for the characterization of agrowaste and developed biosorbent, and recovery of sorbent was also reviewed. The review concluded that further research is required to investigate novel biosorbents that may be a good option for bioremediation for the removal of a large range of toxic heavy metals. The utilization of plant waste as biosorbent will also open a new window of agricultural waste management.