Sugarcane bagasse: a potential low-cost biosorbent for the removal of hazardous materials

The contamination of surface water sources by organic and inorganic pollutants is a major concern in rapidly industrializing countries, and the removal of these potentially hazardous contaminants from the aquatic environment using environmentally friendly technologies is therefore crucial. Biosorption, the passive binding of pollutants using dead biomass, can be achieved using various low-cost agro-industrial residues, which are a convenient substitute to the existing technologies for removing pollutants from aqueous solutions. This review deals with the implementation of sugarcane bagasse as a cost-effective natural biosorbent. We have extensively reviewed the status of research into sugarcane bagasse-based biosorbents in raw and modified forms and explore their efficacy in the removal of pollutants. For this purpose, we considered the bagasse modification processes, modifying agents, and the effects of different experimental variables (for example, biosorbent dosage, initial pollutant ion concentration, solution pH and temperature, contact time, and adsorbent particle size) on the adsorption process and potential. Moreover, we propose the following important goals for future research: (1) determine the adsorption potential of sugarcane bagasse at pilot and industrial scales, (2) demonstrate the efficacies of biosorption techniques for real effluents, and (3) conduct a molecular modeling study to elucidate sugarcane bagasse-associated adsorption mechanism(s).