Tackling the critical issue of water pollution requires sustainable remediation approaches. This review focuses on the promise of innovative biopolymer-based hydrogel microspheres. Made from natural polymers such as alginate and chitosan, these microspheres have demonstrated substantial effectiveness in adsorbing and eliminating various water contaminants, including heavy metals, organic dyes, and pharmaceuticals. For instance, calcium alginate gel beads are particularly efficient in removing Pd(II) ions, while composite alginate materials excel in capturing radioactive and pharmaceutical pollutants. Moreover, chitosan hydrogel microspheres efficiently remove heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants through electrostatic interactions, ion exchange, and chelation. Recent advancements in designing and synthesizing this hydrogel microspheres highlight their enhanced properties, such as high surface area, porosity, and customizable functional groups. Integrating nanomaterials and bioactive agents has further boosted their pollutant removal effectiveness, allowing these microspheres to target various contaminants from azo dyes to pharmaceuticals like ciprofloxacin and methylene blue. This review underscores the transformative potential of alginate and chitosan-based hydrogel microspheres in addressing water pollution. By analyzing recent innovations and potential solutions to scaling challenges, this work helps advance our understanding of how these cutting-edge hydrogels can act as effective, eco-friendly alternatives for sustainable water remediation.
Padhan et al. (2025) studied this question.