Bhayu Gita Bhernama

A REVIEW: SEAWEEDS POTENTIAL AS METAL ABSORPTION AGENTS IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS

Introduction

A review: seaweeds potential as metal absorption agents in aquatic environments . Discover seaweed's potential as an eco-friendly agent for absorbing heavy metals like Cd, Pb, As, Cu, Zn from aquatic environments. Learn how various species act as bioindicators.

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in aquatic environments is an issue that threatens aquatic ecosystems. One natural solution to overcome this problem is to utilize seaweed as a heavy metal absorbing agent. Seaweed is capable of absorbing heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) through interactions on their cell walls. Types of seaweed that have been studied by many researchers such as Gracilaria sp., Caulerpa racemosa, Ulva sp., Pandina australis, Kappaphycus alvarezii, Codium fragile and Eucheuma spinosum have demonstrated varying but significant effectiveness in absorbing heavy metals. It can be concluded that seaweed has great potential to be used as an environmentally friendly absorbing agent and can serve as a bioindicator of aquatic environment quality.

Review

This review article addresses a highly pertinent environmental issue: heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems and the promising natural solution offered by seaweeds. The abstract clearly outlines the scope, focusing on seaweed's capacity to absorb various heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, copper, and zinc through interactions with their cell walls. The mention of specific, well-researched genera like *Gracilaria*, *Caulerpa racemosa*, and *Ulva* indicates a comprehensive approach to synthesizing existing literature, establishing the foundation for seaweed as an effective, environmentally friendly absorbing agent and a potential bioindicator of aquatic quality. The key strength of this review lies in its clear articulation of seaweed's dual potential as both a remediation agent and a bioindicator. By highlighting the mechanistic basis (cell wall interactions) and enumerating a range of effective seaweed species, the abstract successfully demonstrates the breadth of current research in this field. This synthesis is valuable for researchers and policymakers seeking sustainable and natural alternatives to conventional heavy metal removal technologies. The emphasis on "environmentally friendly" solutions further underscores the timely and critical contribution of this review to the discourse on ecological restoration and sustainable resource management. For the full review article to build upon this strong abstract, it would be beneficial to delve deeper into several critical areas. Future research directions and challenges should be thoroughly discussed, including factors influencing absorption efficiency (e.g., pH, temperature, competitive ion presence), the specific functional groups involved in metal binding, and the practical challenges of large-scale implementation and post-absorption metal-laden biomass management. A comparison of seaweed-based methods with other natural or synthetic absorbents, along with an assessment of economic viability and lifecycle impacts, would further strengthen the review's contribution to practical application and policy development.

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