Biopolymers are capable of removing metal ions to ppb levels, are cheap, abundant and
themselves environmentally safe. Another attractive feature
of biopolymers is that they possess a variety of functional
groups, which also includes hydroxyl groups to which other
moieties can be reacted for possible enhancement in the efficiency
of metal ion uptake and/or the maximum chemical
loadings [16]. The cellulosic biomaterials when loaded covalently
by specific dyestuffs give an enhancement in their
adsorptive capacity for metal ions