Progress in the development of phyto-based materials for adsorption of dyes from wastewater: A review

Population growth, urbanisation, and climate change are anticipated to aggravate water shortages in the coming decades. To confront this imminent challenge, there is an urgent need to explore and develop water purification technologies that are not only cost-effective but also energy-efficient. Utilizing plant biomass as a precursor to create bio-based materials with desirable properties emerges as a promising avenue in this endeavour. This approach not only aligns with eco-friendly practices and improved waste management but also capitalizes on the numerous advantages of biomass, including its abundance in nature, cost-effectiveness, and minimal secondary environmental impact. Given the abundance of biomass materials obtained from plants and their inclusion of vital functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino compounds, they present a viable alternative for water purification. These functional groups play a crucial role in chemically transforming and absorbing pollutants in water. However, it is essential to acknowledge the inherent challenges of biomass from a single source, including chemical instability, low adsorption capacity, and weak mechanical strength. Addressing these challenges necessitates a substantial investment in research and development to devise effective methods for producing PBMs and establish suitable application models for water filtration. This comprehensive overview aims to illuminate all facets of BBM synthesis, modification, and functionalization, along with their applications in wastewater treatment. The review explores the steps involved in creating PBMs from biopolymers and delves into their intriguing characteristics that render them ideal for integration into water purification systems. In the final section of this review, we scrutinize the possibilities and challenges associated with the further development of PBMs for water treatment. This examination underscores the significance of PBMs in addressing water purification challenges and lays the groundwork for innovative approaches in this crucial field. Synthesis of compounds for water treatment generated from biomass is a noteworthy scientific pursuit and a necessary step towards establishing sustainable and efficient solutions to the impending water shortage crisis.