The ever-rising environmental problems because of heavy metals emerging from anthropogenic activities pose an impending threat to all biota globally. Considering their persistence and possibility in biomagnification, they are prominent among pollutants. There has been an apparent shift of research interest in advancing cost-effective and competent technologies to mitigate environmental contaminants, specifically heavy metals. In the recent two decades, tailored nanomaterials (NMs), nanoparticles, and NM-based adsorbents have been emerging for removing heavy metal pollution on a sustainable scale, especially the green synthesis of these nanoproducts effective and nonhazardous means. Hence, this review explores the various avenues in nanotechnology, an attempt to gauge nanotechnological approaches to mitigate heavy metals in the aqueous system, especially emphasizing the recent trends and advancements. Inputs on remediating heavy metal in sustainable and environmentally benign aspects recommended future directions to compensate for the voids in this domain have been addressed.
Microalgae have been publicized for their diversified dominance responsiveness and bioaccumulation potential toward pollutants in an ecosystem. Also, algal's incredible capability as biocatalysts in environmental appliances has been well elucidated owing to their robustness and simple nutritional demand. Additionally, microalgae can deliver various collections of bio-based chemical compounds helpful for diversified applications, especially as green alternatives. The environment has been contaminated with various polluting agents; one principal polluting agent is heavy metals which are carcinogenic and show toxicity even in minimal quantity, cause unsatisfactory threats to the environmental ecosystem, including human and animal health. There is a prominent tendency to apply microalgae in the phytoremediation of heavy metals compounds because of its vast benefits, including great accessibility, cost-effective, excellent toxic metal eliminating efficiency, and nontoxic to the ecosystem. This review uncovers the most recent advancements and mechanisms associated with the bioremediation process and biosorption interaction of substantial harmful synthetic compounds processing microalgae species. Furthermore, future challenges and prospects in the utilization of microalgae in heavy metals bioremediation are also explored. The current review aims to give valuable information to aid the advancement of robust and proficient future microalgae-based heavy metal bioremediation innovations and summarizing a wide range of benefits socioeconomic scope to be employed in heavy metal compound removal in environment system.