REVIEW article
Front. Chem.
Sec. Green and Sustainable Chemistry
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fchem.2025.1608863
Valorization of Natural Adsorbents for Chromium (VI) Removal from Industrial Wastewater-A Review
Provisionally accepted
Hajira Haroon1,2*
Tayyab Ashfaq Butt3Jehanzeb Ali Shah2
Ciobica Alin4,5,6*Laura Ecaterina Romila4Vasile Burlui4,7Hamida Bibi8Muhammad Bilal2- 1Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Haripur, 22620, KPK, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- 2Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, KP, Pakistan, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- 3Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Hail, Ha'il, 55425, Saudi Arabia, Hail, Saudi Arabia
- 4“Ioan Haulica” Institute, Apollonia University, Pacurari Street 11,700511 lasi, Romania, Lasi, Romania
- 5Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”. University of Iasi, Carol I Avenue, No. 20A, 700505, Lasi, Romania
- 6CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Pop”, 700115, Lasi, Romania
- 7Academy of Romanian Scientists, Splaiul Independentei 54, Sector 5, 050094 Bucuresti, Romania, Bucuresti, Romania
- 8Department of Environmental Science, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Pakistan, Mardan, Pakistan
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In developing countries, Chromium (Cr(VI)) is released from industries in excess without complying with environmental regulations. This metal is hazardous for aquatic ecosystem and causes toxicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity in humans. Adsorption is an effective and relatively cheap over conventionally applied methods to treat Cr(VI). The commercially available adsorbents are not economical yet for industrial applications. Alternatively, natural adsorbents can be used. The current study focused on Cr(VI) removal using low cost natural adsorbents. Different conditions used for Cr(VI) treatment by various natural adsorbents were also discussed. Literature revealed the following order of average Cr(VI) removal using different adsorbents: leaves> bark> agriculture> dry shell> tea= fungi> yeast>algae >sawdust >bacteria. Acid modification gives best results. The adsorption data mostly best fits to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. It is concluded that the above mentioned low-cost natural biomasses holds the potential for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater. This removal efficiency can be improved by adopting the economical and effective pretreatment techniques. It is concluded that among various available bulk biomasses, leaves are proved to be more efficient and economical without any prior treatment for Cr(VI) removal. This review can pave a way for low cost treatment of Cr(VI) at an industrial scale.
Keywords: Adsorption, Adsorbents, activation, Batch experiments, Chromium (VI)
Received: 09 Apr 2025; Accepted: 09 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Haroon, Butt, Shah, Alin, Romila, Burlui, Bibi and Bilal. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Hajira Haroon, Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Haripur, 22620, KPK, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Ciobica Alin, “Ioan Haulica” Institute, Apollonia University, Pacurari Street 11,700511 lasi, Romania, Lasi, Romania
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.