Green Nanotechnology for Remediation of Heavy Metal–Contaminated Soils

Abstract

Pollutants in the form of heavy metals (HMs) are a major problem that is constantly growing and being addressed on a global scale due to their hazardous effects on the environment as well as human health. Contaminants, whether organic or inorganic, represent a major and persistent threat on a massive scale. Moreover, the advent of industrialization has also progressively initiated soil degradation due to HMs. HMs have contaminated agricultural soils, and for this reason, the issue has gained significant attention from researchers. Different techniques have been adopted so far, out of which nanotechnology has proved to be most effective in overcoming all the drawbacks of traditional remediation methods. They have unique properties, making them efficient stress alleviators due to numerous advantages in terms of green biosynthesis and their eco-friendly nature, effectiveness, reliability, and sustainability. Due to this, nanotechnology in combination with bioremediation has been explored as the most universally applicable technique for the elimination of heavy metals. Nano-bioremediation mainly deals with the eradication of contaminants from contamination sites by using biogenic nanoparticles (NPs), or NPs derived from biological materials. This approach is cutting edge in comparison to other strategies due to its minimal size, high surface area to volume ratio, and stability. Green nanotechnology has gained huge attention due to its ecological and economic benefits. A comprehensive understanding of pollutants, NPs, and their interactions with soil, microbes, and plants is critical for obtaining positive results. This chapter mainly highlights the risk of heavy metals and the application of NPs for the remediation of these pollutants. Moreover, we have also discussed the biosynthesis of NPs and the combination of nanotechnology and biotechnology for heavy metal remediation in polluted soils and plants by revealing their behavior and mechanisms. Above all, advancement in the alleviation of HM toxicity by NPs in the agriculture sector has also been addressed, along with future perspectives.