Utilization of Low-cost Agricultural Waste for Removal of Toxic Metals from Environment A Review

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and industrialization are the leading causes of environmental pollution nowadays. Heavy metals are serious toxic pollutants in soil, water, and air environments. Anthropogenic activity including industrial waste and dust is a widely known source for metal pollution. Various techniques are being used including ion-exchange, membrane filtration, electrolysis, coagulation, flotation, and adsorption for the removal of heavy metals from the environment. However, these techniques have high operating cost, sludge generation and selectivity of metals. Among them, heavy metal removal by the plant is an eco-friendly, sustainable, rapid and economic process. The adsorbent capacity of metal ions by plant and its removal varies, depending on the nature of the plants, particle size, and metal concentrations. This review paper focuses on the idea of using various agricultural wastes for the removal of heavy metals and also a way to management of waste generated by agriculture field. In this context, agricultural biomass is the best technique for the removal of heavy metals and need to improve the utilization of agricultural waste as sustainable way.