Abstract :

The living world faces serious threat from the water pollution caused by heavy metal contamination in water. Specially, long term exposure to heavy metals has been found to lead to severe health hazards. Costly methods of removal of heavy metals from waste water may be replaced by cheap bio-adsorbents which are obtained from nature and are effective in removing heavy metals from waste water. This leads to a green solution to the disposal too. The concept of L-3 class (i.e. low cost, locally available, low technologically prepared and used) of bioadsorbents are the solutions that are being researched upon by many scientists all over the world. In this paper the author tries to give a review on the work carried out by researchers globally on L-3 class bioadsorbents to remove heavy metals from waste water. This will solve the problems faced in procuring drinking water by people living in Indian villages which are near industrial areas. Agricultural wastes and peels of fruits whose disposal often pose problem may be effectively used for this purpose. Also, zeolites, clay, peat moss and chitin may be used to remove toxic heavy metals. Thus nanobiotechnology may be aptly utilized to procure drinking water from waste water.