Magnetically responsive biocomposites for inorganic and organic xenobiotics removal

Abstract

Biosorption of both inorganic and organic xenobiotics using a variety of biological materials represents emerging possibility for the reduction of environmental pollution. In order to improve manipulation of biosorbents, their magnetic derivatives can be prepared. This short chapter provides an overview of magnetically responsive biocomposite materials, both in the form of nanoparticles and microparticles, composed of mainly by individual polysaccharides, complex polysaccharides of the plant origin and microbial and algae cells, and their potential applications in xenobiotics removal. An extensive list of described magnetic biocomposites clearly documents both large variability of biomaterials tested and the procedures used to convert them into magnetic form. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.