Cellulose‐based Materials for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater – An Overview

Abstract

Water pollution due to increase in population and high rates of wastewater generation have become serious concerns since the last few decades. Heavy metals are amongst the main wastewater pollutants due to their ability to persist in the environment. Materials and techniques are being investigated for the treatment of heavy metals in wastewater. Cellulose is one of the materials gaining attention due to its excellent physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Cellulose-based materials are being widely studied for the adsorption of heavy metals. This overview highlights research efforts to enhance the role of cellulose in wastewater treatment through cellulose-based materials. It also discusses the effects of cellulose modifications such as cellulose gels, cellulose composites, cellulose derivatives, functionalized cellulose, and nanocrystalline cellulose on the capacity of heavy metals adsorption.

Biopolymer-Based Materials from Polysaccharides: Properties, Processing, Characterization and Sorption Applications

“…However, adsorption technologies are widely considered as cheap and energy efficient solutions for removal of heavy metals. Biopolymers including cellulose, chitin, and chitosan have been widely investigated as sorbents for remediation of heavy metals due to their excellent sorption properties and environmental benignity [92][93][94]. Here we present, recently reported applications of biopolymer-based materials for the removal of heavy metals.…”

Research of pH influence on sorption properties of sorbents on a basis of residual biomass of microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana and duckweed Lemna minor

“…Now a lot of various sorption materials are studied. It can be falling leaves [2,10], nut shells, rice straw and husk [2,11], chitosan, zeolite, waste of food production, agricultural by-products with or non-modification as well as waste materials from wood processing, eggshell, fruit peels, sugarcane bagasse, and even coconut tree sawdust [12] and other cellulosic materials which often are considered as waste. And all of them due to their structure have a sorption activity to ions of heavy metals (Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Cr(III), Cr(VI)).…”

Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Manganese Oxide Coated Zeolite as Adsorbent for Removal of Copper(II) Ions from Seawater

“…The continuous intake of copper by human beings leads to necrotic changes in the liver and kidney, mucosal irritation; wide-spread capillary damage, depression, weakness, lethargy, anorexia, gastrointestinal irritation and lung cancer [14] [15] [16]. Various methods are used for extraction of heavy metals from aqueous solution, such as reverse osmosis, chemical precipitation, ion exchange, coagulants and flocculation and adsorption [17] [18] [19] [20]. Most of these methods do not seem to be economically feasible because of their relatively high cost.…”

“…Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer, environmental-friendly material and has low cost. However, it has low efficiency toward adsorption of heavy metals [20]. One of the cellulose modifications is grafting with certain monomer [22]- [27].…”