Mercury cleanup: harnessing biomass for wastewater remediation

Pollution by toxic elements from industrial and human activities poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Concerns about water pollution by toxic elements such as zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) are increasing. This review highlights the critical role of biomass in controlling Hg contamination in aquatic environments, given its toxicity, environmental persistence, and damage to ecosystems. Hg is of particular concern due to its potential to accumulate in living organisms and harm the food chain. To address these concerns, sustainable approaches are needed, and biosorption represents a prominent solution. Biosorption, an environmentally friendly process that binds biomass to toxic metal ions, is efficiently used to treat industrial wastewater. Agricultural waste such as banana peels, rice husks, algae, bacteria, fungi, etc., are readily available, affordable, and offer adaptable solutions for the effective removal of toxic Hg from wastewater. The use of biomass for mercury removal is an environmentally friendly and sustainable method for combating water pollution. It reduces the ecological and health risks associated with mercury contamination. The integration of biomass adsorbents into wastewater treatment processes promises to restore aquatic ecosystems and protect human health.