Biosorption of metal toxicants and other water pollutants by Corn (Maize) plant: A comprehensive review

Abstract

The water pollution is one of major environmental and health issue. Various contaminants from effluents originating from different sources (domestic and industrial) and toxic metal ions along with few toxic anions from natural resources (underground water toxicity) are major concerns for water unsuitability for human and other animals consumption. Many innovative technologies are being developed to treat contaminated water including adsorption or biosorption of contaminants from water using different plants and nanotechnology. Various studies have been performed for removal of harmful contaminants by plants as whole or different parts of plants such as maize cob, husk, onion peels, corn-cobs, coconut husk, etc. In this review, a comprehensive study of different literature reports for using Corn plant for biosorption or adsorption of water pollutants have been discussed.