Alginate-based nanobiosorbents for bioremediation of environmental pollutants

Industry development has led to increasing environmental pollution. The adsorption process for the removal of environmental contaminants is considered simple, greener, and cost friendly. Natural polymers or organic compounds produced by living organisms are renewable sources possessing excellent structural modalities, abundant in nature, non-toxic, biocompatible, and promising potential. Sodium alginate is a polysaccharide obtained from brown algae. The presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl moieties made it valuable for adsorption of environmental contaminants including heavy metals, pharmaceutical contaminants, dyes, and radionuclides from aqueous media. Mechanical and thermal stability of alginates is enhanced by compositing it with other inorganic nanomaterials, carbonaceous materials, microbes, and various other polymers. In this chapter, we have summarized sodium alginate modification, alginate-based composites, and their adsorption potential for removal of array of environmental contaminants. Finally, the limitations associated with the sodium alginate adsorbents have been discussed along with future suggestions and perspectives.