title: Environmental applications of chitosan and cellulosic biopolymers: A comprehensive outlook.
abstract: Biopolymers are substances naturally produced by living organisms and are hence considered to be eco-friendly and sustainable. Chitosan and cellulose are of specific significance owing to their abundant availability, ease of modification, and application potential. On the environmental front, their coagulating and flocculating effects have helped in wastewater clarification, while minimizing the dependability on synthetic polyelectrolytes. Biopolymer based hydrogels and nanocomposite films have functioned as effective biosorbents in removing an array of organic and inorganic pollutants, including xenobiotics, from wastewater. Specifically, they have been vastly harnessed for heavy metal and dye adsorption. They have also played a pivotal part in other environmental applications including anti-desertification, natural bio-sealants for preventing concrete leaks and proton conducting membranes in electrochemical devices. Such recent research on the environmental applications of biopolymers has been comprehensively analysed, thus providing a fresh insight into the future prospects of research in this domain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore 641046, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kanmani
authors.affiliation: College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa 16417, Ethiopia. Electronic address: dr.j.aravind@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aravind
authors.affiliation: College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa 16417, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamaraj
authors.affiliation: College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa 16417, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sureshbabu
authors.affiliation: School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632014, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karthikeyan
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001704:Biopolymers; D048271:Chitosan; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Adsorbents; Coagulants-flocculants; Heavy metals; Nanobiocomposites; Wastewater treatment