Chitosan-based bionanocomposites for elimination of hazardous environmental contaminants and food packaging: A comprehensive review

Water quality continues to deteriorate as increasing levels of lethal pollutants are frequently discharged into the environment. The elimination of such toxins from water systems is an emergent field of research today. Over the previous few decades, the utilization of biocompatible and biodegradable natural additives has sparked significant interest in the exclusion of contaminants from wastewater. Chitosan-based bionanocomposites (CB-BNCs) have acquired considerable attention and been demonstrated to be an efficient practice for water purification. These types of BNCs emerged as potential adsorbents/catalysts due to their cost-effectiveness, high abundance, the existence of hydroxyl, amino groups, and excellent aptitude to remove various toxic substances from wastewater. On that account, this review has a dive into of synthesis and applications of CB-BNCs in water conditioning and food packaging. The advances in the use of CB-BNCs to degrade different classes of contaminants, i.e., toxic metals, dyes, drugs, and emerging pollutants by degradation/adsorption, have been highlighted. Also, it exemplifies the approaches for the erasure of various pollutants, highlighting how CS BNCs are valuable and certainly effective candidates for water treatment with improved performance and economical costs.