A comprehensive review on green materials as adsorbents for the remediation of heavy metals, dyes, antibiotics, pesticides, and microplastics from water and wastewater: an overview

Abstract Bioremediation is a sustainable and promising technology for the remediation of different kinds of pollutants, such as heavy metals, dyes, antibiotics, microplastics, and other contaminants present in industrial wastewater. These emergent toxic pollutants have adverse effects on human health. However, different conventional technologies such as filtration, ion exchange, precipitation, etc., are used to remove contaminants such as heavy metals and organic and inorganic pollutants. In this direction, the application of green materials, nanoparticles, and their composites, phyco-remediation, mycoremediation, and different kinds of bio(nano) sorbents such as biochar, hydrochar, chitin, and chitosan, etc., are used for the removal of hazardous pollutants from industrial wastewater. Green bio(nano) sorbent materials are eco-friendly, sustainable in nature, and offer enhanced adsorption efficiency and selectivity as compared to the conventional mode of wastewater treatment. A techno-economic analysis and a circular economy analysis are required for assessing bioremediation. The future perspective and challenges are addressed for the implementation of bioremediation-based technology. Integration of other techniques, such as artificial intelligence, advanced machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is used by researchers for the bioremediation of industrial wastewater. Thus, the application of green (nano)materials for industrial wastewater treatment is a sustainable environmental solution.