Cadmium toxicity, health risk and its remediation using low-cost biochar adsorbents

Cadmium induces toxicity to both flora and fauna, even when it is present in trace amounts. Electroplating, pigments, smelting, mining, alloy production, plastic, cadmium–nickel batteries, fertilizers, pesticides, paint, synthesis of dye, textile operations, and refining sectors all release cadmium into the aquatic environment. “Solvent extraction, adsorption, ion exchange, and precipitation” are a few strategies for removing cadmium. Biochar is an inexpensive and sustainable adsorbent that has proven to be an efficacious adsorbent for the recovery of Cd( ii ) from water. This study discusses the toxicity of cadmium as well as some recent developments of pristine biochar and modified biochar for the elimination of cadmium (Cd) from aqueous solution.