**Author details**

on. This may be the answer to optimizing and economizing biosortion-based waste treatment

Biosorbents carrying metals can be included into feeds or fertilizers as metals bound to organic ligands have greater bioavailability. Also, they can enhance the shelf life of the feed involved. However, biomass may also bind hazardous chemicals (like dyes) when used with industrial

Biosorption is beneficial over conventional techniques. The potential has been demonstrated at laboratory and pilot scales even with actual effluent/discharges. But there is a dearth of examples in the real scenario at organized levels like municipalities/cities/pollution treatment centers/industries. Few commercial ventures have been made. This might be because of the diversity of pollutants and their chemical and biological waste background. A set of promising biosorbents/processes may need to be optimized or standardized for specific effluent types. The cost and feasibility in terms of large-scale applications may be

Routine adoption at municipal and industrial levels requires success stories at field studies. Better metal removal efficiencies at lower costs and labor when compared to other conventional treatments can convince the industry/state to adopt biosorption. However, there is a lack of field experiments. Executing field studies needs great coordination, capital, man-

State intervention is needed to assist the scientific community to not only fund and coordinate such large studies in terms of manpower/infrastructure but to also access the industry(s) concerned. The general indifference of the industry toward waste treatment may be an issue. The state can act as bridge for informing and facilitating the availability of biomass from different sources to different polluting units. Such efforts will create a mutually sustainable waste treatment scenario. For example, the disposal of agro-waste from the rural setup to

An environment encouraging start-ups based on biosorption technology needs to be created. Stringent norms and scrutiny against effluent discharge can convince the industry to view waste treatment as a necessary investment rather than an avoidable overhead cost. Under this scenario start-ups like Biosorbex, investing in eco-friendly waste treatment technologies, can

Efforts may be devoted to also apply biosorption at domestic (household) or community lev-

Techniques like response surface methodology, artificial neural networking, boosted regression tree, and genetic algorithm may be used for process optimization. Modeling should be done in solutions with multiple metals and organic matter simulating the real wastewater conditions. Pilot and field studies should be conducted comparing biosorption with the conventional techniques. The use of computer-based simulations or modeling can reduce the

els rather than awaiting the installation of large centralized water treatment setups.

polluting units in order to treat effluents is a win-win for both parties.

by improving stable efficient biosorbents.

evaluated.

100 Biosorption

flourish.

number of field trials.

power, and infrastructure.

effluents. The use of such biomass into feeds is not recommended.

Sri Lakshmi Ramya Krishna Kanamarlapudi, Vinay Kumar Chintalpudi and Sudhamani Muddada\*

\*Address all correspondence to: sudhamani1@rediffmail.com

Department of Biotechnology, Koneru Laxmiah Education Foundation (A Deemed to be University), Vaddeswaram, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
