Remediation of Heavy Metals by Biomolecules: A Review
- 26 September 2014
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology
- Vol. 45 (15), 1644-1704
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2014.966425
Abstract
Some biomolecules are well known for the complexation of heavy metals from wastewater: cellulose, alginate, pectins, and starches for example. However, less used natural molecules could also be efficient to chelate heavy metals. Indeed, some cells contain polypeptides that can help detoxifying living organisms containing heavy metals. This natural detoxification process is of great interest, and particularly the molecules taking part in it. The amino acids composing these polypeptides, especially cysteine, tyrosine, and histidine, can be used for water purification. The efficiency of biomolecules containing aromatic rings on heavy metals complexation is also investigated. All these biomolecules are able to chelate heavy metals thanks to some chemical groups and atoms: the most well-known and efficient chemical groups are listed in the article. Finally, some potential environmental applications of biomolecules are suggested at the end of the article.Keywords
This publication has 205 references indexed in Scilit:
- Chelation: Harnessing and Enhancing Heavy Metal Detoxification—A ReviewThe Scientific World Journal, 2013
- Synthesis of Novel Lignin-Based Ion-Exchange Resin and Its Utilization in Heavy Metals RemovalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2013
- Porous alginate aerogel beads for effective and rapid heavy metal sorption from aqueous solutions: Effect of porosity in Cu2+ and Cd2+ ion sorptionChemical Engineering Journal, 2012
- Metal Cation Dependence of Interactions with Amino Acids: Bond Energies of Cs+ to Gly, Pro, Ser, Thr, and CysThe Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 2012
- Glutathione Is a Key Player in Metal-Induced Oxidative Stress DefensesInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2012
- Using Synthetically Modified Proteins to Make New MaterialsAccounts of Chemical Research, 2011
- Effect of metal Ions (Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) and water coordination on the structure of L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan and their zwitterionic formsJournal of Molecular Modeling, 2011
- Plasma Polymerization of Maleic Anhydride: Just What Are the Right Deposition Conditions?Langmuir, 2010
- An overview of landfill leachate treatment via activated carbon adsorption processJournal of Hazardous Materials, 2009
- Spectroscopic and Electronic Structure Studies of Phenolate Cu(II) Complexes: Phenolate Ring Orientation and Activation Related to Cofactor BiogenesisJournal of the American Chemical Society, 2008