Lignocellulose biosorbents: Unlocking the potential for sustainable environmental cleanup

Climate change, the overconsumption of fossil fuels, and rapid population and economic growth have collectively driven a growing emphasis on environmental sustainability and the need for effective resource management. Chemicals or materials not currently regulated are known as contaminants of emergent concern (CECs). Nevertheless, wastewater is thought to be its main source, and worries about its probable presence in the environment are growing due to its potential damage to human and environmental health. To counteract hazardous chemicals in wastewater and promote ecological sustainability, there has been a significant deal of interest in finding environmentally benign and renewable materials. Because of its constituents' distinct physical and chemical qualities, lignocellulose stands out among the many possibilities as the most appealing possibility for water cleanup. It is an abundant, biocompatible, and renewable substance. Sustainable social development requires wastewater cleanup using renewable lignocellulosic resources. However, the generation of lignocellulose-based materials is restricted by the byproducts that are produced and the complicated, expensive, and environmentally harmful synthetic process. It has been determined that biosorption on lignocellulosic wastes and by-products is a suitable substitute for the current technologies used to remove hazardous metal ions and dye from wastewater streams. Lignocellulose is highly effective at adsorbing heavy metals like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb). Beyond heavy metals, it can also capture various organic pollutants, that includes dyes (like methylene blue, methyl orange and malachite green), and pharmaceutical residues, and pesticides. Additionally, lignocellulosic materials are valuable for adsorbing oil and hydrocarbons from water, playing a crucial role in addressing environmental concerns related to oil spills. The pollutant removal efficiency of lignocellulose can be greatly improved through a range of physical, chemical, and biological modification methods, including thermal and ultrasound treatments, acid and alkali processing, ammoniation, amination, grafting, crosslinking, enzymatic modifications, and microbial colonization. In this article, we examine the most recent developments in lignocellulose-based adsorbent research, with an emphasis on lignocellulosic composition, adsorbent application, and material modification. A methodical and thorough presentation of the preparation and modification techniques for lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, as well as their utilization for treating various types of contaminated water, is provided. Additionally, a great resource for comprehending the specified adsorption mechanism and recycling of adsorbents is the thorough explanation of the mechanism of adsorption, the adsorbent renewal process, and the adsorption model.