Removing of Heavy Metals using Bio-Based Composites

Heavy metal pollution is a major problem in the environment. The impact of toxic metal ions can be reduced by different technologies i.e. chemical precipitation, membrane filtration, oxidation, reverse osmosis, flotation and adsorption. But among them, adsorption was found to be very efficient and common due to the low concentration of metal uptake and economically convenient properties. Cellulosic materials are of low cost and widely used, and very promising for the future. These are available in abundant quantity, are cheap and have low or little economic value. Different forms of cellulosic materials are used as adsorbents such as fibres, leaves, roots, shells, barks, husks, stems and seed as well as other parts also. Natural and modified types of cellulosic materials are used in different metal detoxifications in water and wastewater. The elemental properties of cellulosic materials are also discussed along with their cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin contents.