Pristine Biosorbents to Composites: An Overview on Quality Assessment, Limitations, and Advancements Toward Wheat Straw Adsorbents for Wastewater Remediation

Abstract Wheat straw (WS) is a lignocellulosic crop residue that has mass‐scale generations but has no economic value. Unscientific disposals and open burning have impacted the environment adversely, contributing to localized poor air quality index, global warming, and climate change. Sustainable management of such biomass toward quality adsorbents, as rightly identified under United Nations Sustainable Goals (UNSDG) is an efficient step toward circular economy. In this respect, a perusal of literature has divulged knowledge on varied class of adsorbents that have been fabricated till date from WS biomass starting from its pristine form as biosorbent to activated carbon/biochar and more lately, to its composites. The review has made a report sheet on the quality aspects of each such class of adsorbent taking into account the fabrication procedurals, physicochemical characteristics, their adsorptive performance toward diverse water‐based pollutants, and finally their reuse characteristics. The important aspect is the identification of limitations encountered in pristine WS biosorbent, biochars, and activated carbons/biopolymers with further discussion on research advancements made till date on related area. The more recent focus on research for WS composites holds promise for design of advanced adsorbents to better target larger and diverse pollutant moieties under competitive environments as well as to exhibit reuse characteristics. The information has the aim to showcase the progress made till date toward diversified adsorbents fabricated from WS and their affectivity toward wastewater remediation.