Heavy Metals: Environmental Threat -- Detoxification of Metals -- Biochelation -- Metal Decontamination: Techniques Used So Far -- Existing Metal Removal Technologies: Demerits -- Hyperaccumulation: A Phytoremedial Approach -- Biosorption: A Promising Green Approach -- Biosorption: Mechanistic Aspects -- Biosorbents Used So Far -- Biosorption: Application Strategies -- Designing of Experiments -- Interpretations -- Sorption Isotherms and Kinetics -- Reusability of Biomaterial: A Cost-Effective Approach -- Characterization of Metal-Biomaterial Interaction -- Protein as Possible Bioactive Principle -- Novel Biomaterials -- Commercialization Approach
Summary
Current research revolves around trends to bring technology into harmony with the natural environment and in order to protect the ecosystem. Bioremediation involves processes which reduce the overall treatment costs by using agricultural residues. Regeneration of the biosorbent further increases the cost effectiveness of the process, thus warranting its future success in solving water quality problems. Special emphasis is paid to chemical modifications resulting in tailored novel biomaterials which improve its sorption efficiency and environmental stability. In this way it can be used commercially as a simple, fast, economical, ecofriendly green technology, for the removal of toxic metals from waste water particularly in rural and remote areas of the country
