Abstract

The present review draws on a wide range of resources available on bioderived, bioconjugated, chemisorption technologies and strategies known for degradation of heavy metals. The prevalent escalation in application of heavy metals, chemically synthesized dyes and xenobiotic compounds has created major environmental disruptions. Industries, mining, vehicles, and household activities release heavy metals and their derivatives into a multitude of water resources. Contaminated water provides an easy ingress of these contaminants into human and animal system resulting in exposure related disorders like mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and other serious health issues. Minimization and management of such chemicals demands high end technology, equipment, time, effort and cost. Thus, the less demanding but more effective strategy would be adoption of biosorption, using whole plant/microbial cells, components, derived and/or synthesized materials to convert toxic compounds/metals into less toxic forms. This review documents, critically analyses and collates heavy metals from mining, processing and industrial effluents followed by remediation technologies based on plants and microbes. Each section in the latter is discussed in detail with relevant examples that illustrate biosorption, bioderived, bioconjugated, chemisorptions, and bioremediation strategies. In the final analysis, though plant materials exhibit efficient removal strategies, particularly when augmented by nanomaterial conjunction, the commercial scale and viability remain to be validated