Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biopolymer in Wastewater Treatment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biopolymers

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Polymer and Composite Materials ((SSPCM))

Abstract

Water is the most essential resource on the planet, as it is required for the survival of all living organisms. Apart from the need for water for drinking, it is an essential component of modern societies with agricultural and industrial sectors heavily dependent on it. However, the inappropriate release of a range of harmful organic and inorganic contaminants from untreated industrial, agricultural, and domestic wastewater has a negative impact on water resources and thus poses a great risk to aquatic systems, animal, and human health. Organic toxics like dyes, as well as heavy metals including cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, tin, and zinc, may be present in our water supplies, posing major health risks to all living species. Some methods, including adsorption, coagulation, flocculation, ion exchange, and membrane filtration, precipitation and co-precipitation, and solvent extraction, have been tested for the removal of these toxic pollutants. However, the capital cost for these treatment methods is very high and require synthetic toxic reagents. Biopolymers have been recently suggested for wastewater treatment because of their renewable properties, sustainability, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. Biopolymers can also be combined with a variety of reinforcing elements (antioxidants, natural fibres, pigments, and micro-, nanoparticles of inorganic fillers) to create unique composites with enhanced characteristics. In this chapter, we describe the application of various natural biopolymers and grafted copolymers to remove heavy metals, dyes, oils, other chemical or drugs, and turbidity from the wastewater, as well as challenges and future perspectives in the development of novel biopolymers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ajao V et al (2021) Bioflocculants from wastewater: Insights into adsorption affinity, flocculation mechanisms and mixed particle flocculation based on biopolymer size-fractionation. J Colloid Interface Sci 581:533–544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.07.146

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Asif MB et al (2021) ‘21—Polysaccharide-derived biopolymeric nanomaterials for wastewater treatment. In Kanwar S et al (eds) Biopolymeric nanomaterials. Elsevier (Micro and Nano Technologies), pp 447–469. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824364-0.00012-5

  3. Chang YC, Chang SW, Chen DH (2006) Magnetic chitosan nanoparticles: studies on chitosan binding and adsorption of Co (II) ions. React Funct Polym 66(3):335–341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Chaudhary S, Sharma J, Kaith BS, Yadav S, Sharma AK, Goel A (2018) Gum xanthan-psyllium- cl-poly (acrylic acid-co-itaconic acid) based adsorbent for effective removal of cationic and anionic dyes: adsorption isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamic studies. Ecotoxic Environ Safety 149:150–158

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen B et al (2020) Magnetic chitosan biopolymer as a versatile adsorbent for simultaneous and synergistic removal of different sorts of dyestuffs from simulated wastewater. Chem Eng J 385:123926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.123926

  6. Fertah M et al (2017) Extraction and characterization of sodium alginate from Moroccan Laminaria digitata brown seaweed. Arab J Chem 10:S3707–S3714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2014.05.003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fouda-Mbanga BG, Prabakaran E, Pillay K (2021) Carbohydrate biopolymers, lignin based adsorbents for removal of heavy metals (Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+) from wastewater, regeneration and reuse for spent adsorbents including latent fingerprint detection: a review. Biotechnol Reports 30:e00609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2021.e00609

  8. Golie WM, Upadhyayula S (2017) An investigation on biosorption of nitrate from water by chito- san based organic-inorganic hybrid biocomposites. Int J Biol Macromol 97:489–502

    Google Scholar 

  9. Habiba U, Afifi AM, Salleh A, Ang BC (2017) Chitosan/(polyvinyl alcohol)/zeolite electrospun composite nanofibrous membrane for adsorption of Cr6C, Fe3C and Ni2C. J Hazard Mater 322:182–194

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Huang CH, Hsieh TH, Chiu WY (2015) Evaluation of thermally crosslinkable chitosan-based nanofibrous mats for the removal of metal ions. Carbohydr Polym 116:249–254

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jacob J, Gopi S (2021) Isolation and physicochemical characterization of biopolymers. Biopol Indus Appl.https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-819240-5.00003-1

  12. Joly N et al (2020) Interaction of metal ions with mono-and polysaccharides for wastewater natural products chemistry & research interaction of metal ions with mono- and polysaccharides for wastewater treatment : a review. Nat Products Chem Res 8:1–17. https://doi.org/10.35248/2329-6836.20.8.373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kartik A et al (2021) A critical review on production of biopolymers from algae biomass and their applications. Bioresource Technol 329:124868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124868

  14. Kawalkar A (2014) A comprehensive review on biopolymers. Scientific Rev Chemi Commun 4(2):61–68

    Google Scholar 

  15. Khurana P et al (2020)‘HAHmiR.DB: a server platform for high-altitude human miRNA-gene coregulatory networks and associated regulatory circuits. Database. https://doi.org/10.1093/DATABASE/BAAA101

  16. Łabowska MB, Michalak I, Detyna J (2019) Methods of extraction, physicochemical properties of alginates and their applications in biomedical field—a review. Open Chem 17(1):738–762. https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2019-0077

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lazaridis NK, Keenan H (2010) Chitosan beads as barriers to the transport of azo dye in soil col- umn. J Hazard Mater 173:144–150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee CSCS, Robinson J, Chong MFMF (2014) A review on application of flocculants in wastewater treatment. Process Saf Environ Prot 92(6):489–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2014.04.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Li Y, Qiu TB, Xu XY (2013a) Preparation of lead-ion imprinted crosslinked electrospun chito- san nanofiber mats and application in lead ions removal from aqueous solutions. Eur Polym J 49:1487–1494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Lutzu GA et al (2021) Latest developments in wastewater treatment and biopolymer production by microalgae. J Environ Chem Eng 9(1):104926. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104926

  21. Maji B, Maiti S (2021) Chemical modification of xanthan gum through graft copolymerization: tailored properties and potential applications in drug delivery and wastewater treatment. Carbohydrate Poly 251:117095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117095

  22. Martins PSDO, De Almeida NF, Leite SGF (2008) Application of a bacterial extracellular polymeric substance in heavy metal adsorption in a co-contaminated aqueous system. Braz J Microbiol 39(4):780–786. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-83822008000400034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Maćczak P, Kaczmarek H, Ziegler-Borowska M (2020) Recent achievements in polymer bio-based flocculants for water treatment. Materials 13(18):https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13183951

  24. McDowall DJ, Gupta BS, Stannett VT (1984) Grafting of vinyl monomers to cellulose by ceric ion initiation. Prog Polym Sci 10(1):1–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Min LL, Yuan ZH, Zhong LB, Liu Q, Wu RX, Zheng YM (2015) Preparation of chitosan based electrospun nanofiber membrane and its adsorptive removal of arsenate from aqueous solution. Chem Eng J 267:132–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Mtibe A et al (2021) Synthetic biopolymers and their composites: advantages and limitations-an overview. Macromol Rapid Commun 42(15):e2100130. https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202100130

  27. Nasrollahzadeh M et al (2021) Starch, cellulose, pectin, gum, alginate, chitin and chitosan derived (nano)materials for sustainable water treatment: a review. Carbohydrate Poly 251:116986.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116986

  28. No HK, Meyers SP (2000) Application of chitosan for treatment of wastewaters. Revi Environ Contamination Toxicol 163:1–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6429-1_1.

  29. Olivera S et al (2016) Potential applications of cellulose and chitosan nanoparticles/composites in wastewater treatment: a review. Carbohyd Polym 153:600–618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.08.017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Pal A, Majumder K, Bandyopadhyay A (2016) Surfactant mediated synthesis of poly(acrylic acid) grafted xanthan gum and its efficient role in adsorption of soluble inorganic mercury from water. Carbohyd Polym 152:41–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.06.064

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Pal P et al (2021) Applications of chitosan in environmental remediation: a review. Chemosphere, 266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128934

  32. Pandey J (2020) Biopolymers and their application in wastewater treatment. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1390-9_11

  33. Qi X et al (2021) Recent advances in polysaccharide-based adsorbents for wastewater treatment. J Cleaner Prod 315:128221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128221

  34. Rawat P et al (2018) Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of in vitro immunomodulatory activity of Rhododendron Arboreum leaves. Asian J Pharm Clin Res 11(8):123–128. https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2018.v11i8.25372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Rebah FB, Mnif W, Siddeeg SM (2018) Microbial flocculants as an alternative to synthetic polymers for wastewater treatment: a review. Symmetry 10(11):1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym10110556

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Rezaee A, Ramavandi B, Ganati F, Ansari M, Solimanian A (2006) Biosorption of mercury by biomass of filamentous algae Spirogyra species. J Biol Sci 6:695–700

    Google Scholar 

  37. Russo T et al (2021) Sustainable removal of contaminants by biopolymers: a novel approach for wastewater treatment. current state and future perspectives. Processes 9(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9040719

  38. Salehi E, Daraei P, Arabi Shamsabadi A (2016) A review on chitosan-based adsorptive membranes. Carbohydr Polym 152:419–432

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Saravanan R, Ravikumar L (2015) The use of new chemically modified cellulose for heavy metal ion adsorption and antimicrobial activities. J Water Resour Prot 7:530–545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Sarode S et al (no date) Title: overview of wastewater treatment methods with special focus on biopolymer chitin- chitosan Abstract Heavy metals have substantively high values of half-lives with nonbiodegradable chemical nature . At the same time, their ionic compounds have ama

    Google Scholar 

  41. Schmidt B, Kowalczyk K, Zielinska B (2021) Synthesis and characterization of novel hybrid flocculants based on potato starch copolymers with hollow carbon spheres. Materials 14(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14061498

  42. Shaikh MAJ et al (2021) Current update on psyllium and alginate incorporate for interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) and their biomedical applications. Int J Biol Macromol 191:432–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.09.115

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Udayakumar GP et al (2021) Ecofriendly biopolymers and composites: Preparation and their applications in water-treatment. Biotechnol Adv 52:107815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107815

  44. Wang T, Jin X, Chen Z, Megharaj M, Naidu R (2014) Green synthesis of Fe nanoparticles using eucalyptus leaf extracts for treatment of eutrophic wastewater. Sci Total Environ 466:210–213

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Wang S et al. (2021) Advances in microbial remediation for heavy metal treatment: a mini review. J Leather Sci Eng. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42825-020-00042-z

  46. Xia S et al (2020) Application of polysaccharide biopolymer in petroleum recovery. Polymers 12(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12091860

  47. Yue Y et al (2019) A novel polyamidine-grafted carboxymethylcellulose: synthesis, characterization and flocculation performance test. E-Polymers 19(1):225–234. https://doi.org/10.1515/epoly-2019-0023

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Zhang C et al (2017) Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase2.1 contributes to the soybean response towards Phytophthora sojae infection. Sci Rep 7(1):1–13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07832-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Zhao N et al (2020) Synthesis of polymer grafted starches and their flocculation properties in clay suspension. Minerals 10(12):1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/min10121054

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Zhao C et al (2021) Application of coagulation/flocculation in oily wastewater treatment: a review. Sci Total Environ 765:142795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142795

  51. Zubair M, Ullah A (2021) Chapter 14—Biopolymers in environmental applications: industrial wastewater treatment. In Thomas S, Gopi S, Amalraj A (eds) biopolymers and their industrial applications. Elsevier, pp 331–349. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819240-5.00014-6

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, Punjab, India

    Jasdeep Singh, Shubham Kumar & Swati Sharma

Authors
  1. Jasdeep Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shubham Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Swati Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, India

    Ashok Kumar Nadda

  2. University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India

    Swati Sharma

  3. ERA-Chair in VALORTECH, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia

    Rajeev Bhat

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Singh, J., Kumar, S., Sharma, S. (2022). Biopolymer in Wastewater Treatment. In: Nadda, A.K., Sharma, S., Bhat, R. (eds) Biopolymers. Springer Series on Polymer and Composite Materials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98392-5_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation