Sustainable strategies for remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated soil and water bodies: exploring the potential of invasive bamboo and its derivatives

Hexavalent chromium is a highly noxious and mobile environmental pollutant primarily released through industrial activities such as tanning, electroplating, mining, and pigment manufacturing. Cr(VI) exhibits mutagenic and carcinogenic properties due to its strong oxidizing nature, and poses severe risks to soil health, aquatic ecosystems, and living organisms. Its high solubility facilitates leaching through soil matrices, resulting in groundwater contamination and long-term ecological damage. Although conventional physicochemical remediation techniques are effective, their high operational; cost, energy demand, and generation of secondary pollutants limit their sustainability. The present review explores bamboo, and invasive and fast-growing plant with high biomass productivity, as a sustainable alternative for the remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated soil and water bodies. The phytoremediation potential of bamboo is discussed with emphasis on chromium uptake, immobilization, rhizospheric interactions, and tolerance mechanisms in contaminated soils. Furthermore, the application of bamboo-derived materials, including biochar, hydrochar, activated carbon, charcoal, and chemically modified bamboo-based adsorbents, is critically evaluated for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous systems through adsorption, reduction, and stabilization mechanisms. Comparative insights into the performance of bamboo-based adsorbents relative to conventional commercial materials are also presented. Finally, existing challenges related to large-scale application, material regeneration, and ecological risks associated with bamboo invasiveness are highlighted, and future research directions focusing on bamboo-based composite and recyclable materials are proposed to enhance remediation efficiency while minimizing secondary environmental impacts.