Chitosan-based biosorbents: Modifications and application for sequestration of PPCPs and metals for water remediation

Abstract

Contamination of aquatic media by organic and inorganic pollutants is a serious environmental problem that affects the reuse of water obtained from treated domestic or industrial waste water. This chapter discusses the occurrence, persistence, bioaccumulation, adverse risk assessments on ecosystem by the pollutants along with an overview of the limitations, drawbacks, and recent challenges of some advanced effective techniques like advance oxidation processes and ozonation for the remediation of pollutants. It also highlights new horizons for their removal using new and cost-effective treatment technologies. The chapter addresses novel adsorbents including chitosan-based derivatives that have been used for sequestration of pollutants for water purification. Specific recognition sites can be incorporated within the chitosan-based biosorbents using molecularly imprinted technique for enhancing its adsorption capacity. Computer-aided design of chitosan-based biosorbents provides assistance in choice of precursors and porogen and proves to be a rapid and economical option to optimize the imprinting conditions for achieving higher removal efficiency.