An assessment of the lignocellulose-based biosorbents in removing Cr(VI) from contaminated water: A critical review

Increasing industrialization and urbanization potentially enhance the uses of Cr(VI) compounds in electroplating, corrosion inhibition, tanning, printing, and dyeing, from where a large amount of waste containing Cr(VI) is released. An excessive amount of Cr(VI) in water is a matter of great concern for environmental scientists these days because of its significant threats to human health and the environment. The removal of Cr(VI) using low cost biosorbents derived from lignocellulosic biomasses is a feasible process due to their functional varieties, high efficiency, economic, and technical ease of operation. Literature shows that several batch studies extensively evaluated the biosorbent from living and dead biomass including waste produced from agriculture and various industries but large scale production and application are still missing. Biosorption of Cr(VI) using lignocellulosic material is a novel approach that has risen as one of the most versatile methods thus its promotion on the industrial level for the control of Cr(VI) pollution is particularly important. In the present paper, we have made critical reviews on the biosorption capacities of various lignocellulosic biosorbent, and biosorption mechanisms highlighting some important parameters: pH, contact time, dose, and temperature. Moreover, the list of potentially effective lignocellulose-based biosorbent until the dates has been compiled. The purpose of this review paper is to aid in the identification of current trends, potential study fields, and the challenges towards the practical application of the biosorption process from the literature together with our suggestions for future perspectives.