Heavy Metal Adsorption by Plant Phenolic Polymer: Lignin Nanoparticles

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Due to the extreme toxicity of heavy metal ions, water pollution caused by them is currently a major concern. The search for novel, economically viable adsorbents derived from biomass has been intensified recently. Heavy metals are causing a growing number of pollution incidents, leading to significant harm to the health of human beings and also affecting the aquatic environment. Therefore, there is a need for effective and efficient methods for removing high atomic weight metal ions. Lignin is a complex biopolymer that has tremendous scope for usage as a material for the development and production of biodegradable products. Herein, novel hybrid nanoparticles can be prepared. Owing to its distinct physicochemical properties, crosslinked phenol structure, and availability, lignin can be used to possibly generate broad ranges of sorbents, especially those that adsorb heavy metal ions. Thus, the objective of this chapter is to explore the different categories of modifications in the process of lignin's transformation into sophisticated adsorbents for heavy metal ions. Additionally, lignin-derived adsorbents are able to offer significant ecological advantages because of their biocompatibility, stability, and abundance in the plant world. The development of novel lignin-based adsorbents with improved heavy metal ion adsorbent performance may be facilitated by the information in this chapter.