ABSTRACT
Biosorption involves the use of biological material for the removal of metal or metalloid species, compounds, and particulates from solution. Biosorption can be divided into various types, based either on the dependence on the cell’s metabolism or on the location where the contaminant removed from solution is found. Different biomaterials ranging from living forms, such as algae, moss, fungi, bacteria, and higher plants, to nonliving biomass and waste materials are available in nature, which have been employed as biosorbents for the desired pollutant removal. Contaminants, including metals, dyes, fluoride, phthalates, and pharmaceuticals, have been effectively removed from aqueous solutions by using the process of biosorption. Biosorption is still in its developmental stages but provides numerous advantages over conventional treatment methods and can serve as a potential remediation technology in the coming decades. Further improvements in both performance and costs, along with its strong technical superiority and economic feasibility, open considerable opportunities for environmental researchers and entrepreneurs. However, a lot of work needs to be done before the commercialization of the biosorption technology.
