Applications of bio-based nanomaterials in environment and agriculture: A review on recent progresses

Abstract

Nanotechnology is revolutionizing in every field of life, from remediation to its applications in agriculture. The immense characteristics of the nanostructures includes smaller size, increased surface area, ion exchange ability and catalytic activity which allows their application in various fields, including detection and cleanup of water pollutants, soil nutrient balance, reduction in harvest loss and protection of crops in agriculture. Moving towards the green methods for nanomaterial (NM) synthesis is a sustainable approach considering the safer use of NMs over the physical and chemical methods. Bio-based nanomaterials (NMs) are synthesized from any biological sources including microbes (bacteria, algae, fungi) and plants. We concentrate mainly on the plant-based nanomaterials synthesized from cellulose, chitin/chitosan and lignin for the development of functional and biodegradable NMs. The nanomaterials are used to target the environmental problems like accumulation of heavy metals and dyes in water bodies and focus on its remediation. This review article aims to describe the importance of bio-based NMs, and their roles in environmental remediation focusing majorly on the water treatment and oil spill cleanup. We also discuss about the use of nanomaterials in agriculture to control release of nutrients, as nanofertilizers, nanopesticides and nanoherbicides. We majorly discuss about the beneficiary accounts of using bio-based NMs in environment remediation, applications in agriculture, safety aspects and challenges associated with bio-based NMs and their successful implementation.

Keywords

• Nanocellulose
• Heavy metals
• Oil spills
• Dyes
• Agriculture
• Environmental remediation