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Open research questions in Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal

237 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,505 Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Investigating the scalability of the FeCl3 activation process. Evaluating the adsorption of other dyes and pollutants. Examining the effects of other factors such as temperature and ionic strength on the adsorption performance.

    FeCl3-Activated Agro-Waste Biochars for Enhanced Dye Adsorption: Unveiling the Role of Iron Oxide Active Sites · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the role of iron oxide active sites in the adsorption process. Lack of effective adsorbents for dye removal from aqueous media. Need for sustainable and efficient methods for managing agro-industrial wastes.

    FeCl3-Activated Agro-Waste Biochars for Enhanced Dye Adsorption: Unveiling the Role of Iron Oxide Active Sites · 2026 · DOI

  • Raw serpentinite exhibits restricted pore structure, - Moderate specific surface area, - Finite active-site density, - Limited adsorption capacity for some pollutants

    Engineering serpentinite-derived materials for sustainable water remediation: activation pathways, surface engineering, and adsorption–photocatalytic applications—a review · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigation of other activation methods, - Exploration of serpentinite-derived materials for various pollutant removal, - Study of structure-property relationships for improved remediation performance

    Engineering serpentinite-derived materials for sustainable water remediation: activation pathways, surface engineering, and adsorption–photocatalytic applications—a review · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigating the removal of other types of azo dyes, - Exploring the use of different biocomposite materials, - Studying the scalability of the adsorption process

    Biocomposite innovations for the removal of azo dyes from industrial wastewater · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for efficient treatment of azo dyes in industrial wastewater. The lack of effective biocomposite materials for the removal of methyl orange from aqueous environments.

    Biocomposite innovations for the removal of azo dyes from industrial wastewater · 2026 · DOI

  • Examining the adsorption of other dyes or pollutants onto Agave angustifolia fibers, - Investigating the effects of other variables on the adsorption behavior, - Developing a scale-up process for the use of Agave angustifolia fibers as a biosorbent

    Experimental investigation and DFT studies of fluorescein adsorption onto modified agave angustifolia fiber biosorbent · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for sustainable and effective methods for removing dyes from wastewater. The study identifies a gap in the use of Agave angustifolia fibers as a biosorbent for removing fluorescein dye.

    Experimental investigation and DFT studies of fluorescein adsorption onto modified agave angustifolia fiber biosorbent · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited adsorption capacity of conventional powdered activated carbon. Lack of understanding of the adsorption mechanism and influencing factors.

    Enhanced Adsorption of GSM and 2-MIB via Surface-Amplified Powdered Activated Carbon: Adsorption Performance and Mechanism · 2026 · DOI

  • Machine learning (ML) has been used to uncover the impacts of these mechanisms through feature engineering, but progress is limited by the data quality for training.

    Machine Learning Reveals Key Adsorption Mechanisms for Oxyanions Based on Combination of Experimental and Published Literature Data · 2025 · DOI

  • However, their adsorption performance under complex ionic environments relevant to real wastewater remains insufficiently understood.

    Dual Heteroatom Synergy in Rice Husk–Derived Biochar: A Nitrogen/Sulfur Co-Grafting Strategy for Superior Adsorptive Removal of Tetracycline Hydrochloride · 2025 · DOI

  • These findings provide a theoretical basis for further research on the application of sulfonated biochar in soil improvement and remediation.

    Molecular characteristics of organic matter derived from sulfonated biochar · 2024 · DOI

  • All five fungi were identified by ITS sequencing, and among them, Paecilomyces lilacinus showed the best adsorption performance for the five heavy metals; therefore, we conducted further research on its adsorption characteristics.

    Screening and performance optimization of fungi for heavy metal adsorption in electrolytes · 2024 · DOI

  • However, there is limited research on the adsorption mechanism of biochar for the removal of BCG.

    Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Adsorption of Bromocresol Green from Aqueous Solution Using Cucumber Straw Biochar · 2024 · DOI

  • Further studies can investigate the scalability and feasibility of the adsorbent for industrial applications. The adsorbent can be modified to improve its adsorption performance and selectivity.

    Synthesis, characterization and adsorption performance of biomass-derived adsorbents for heavy metal removal from water · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for sustainable and low-cost adsorbents for heavy metal removal. Conventional methods have limitations, and new approaches are required.

    Synthesis, characterization and adsorption performance of biomass-derived adsorbents for heavy metal removal from water · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for advanced functional materials to efficiently capture and immobilize isotopes. The lack of effective methods for the separation of zirconium from yttrium.

    Bacterial cellulose nanofibers decorated with graphene/Cu-Mg MOF for sorption of zirconium, yttrium, and strontium ions from multicomponent system · 2026 · DOI

  • To investigate the scalability of the adsorption process. To examine the potential toxicity of the adsorbent or the adsorbed dye. To explore the use of natural clay as an adsorbent for other types of dyes or pollutants.

    Adsorption of methylene blue onto clay: experiments and statistical physics interpretation · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the adsorption mechanism of methylene blue onto natural clay. The need for a cost-effective and efficient adsorbent for removing dyes from aqueous solutions. The limited exploration of natural clay as a potential adsorbent for dye removal.

    Adsorption of methylene blue onto clay: experiments and statistical physics interpretation · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies can investigate the potential scalability of the developed adsorbent. Future studies can explore the use of other modifying agents to enhance the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposite. Future studies can investigate the potential applications of the developed adsorbent in various fields.

    Sustainable conversion of cotton straw into high-performance nanocellulose-based adsorbents for lead removal · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a research gap in the development of scalable, ecofriendly, and cost-effective adsorbents for heavy metal remediation. The study highlights the potential of agricultural waste as a source of adsorbents for heavy metal remediation.

    Sustainable conversion of cotton straw into high-performance nanocellulose-based adsorbents for lead removal · 2026 · DOI

  • The adsorption performance of biochar needs to be improved for efficient dye removal. The scalability of the adsorption process needs to be evaluated. The potential applications of surface-modified biochar in industrial wastewater treatment need to be investigated.

    Adsorption performance, adsorber design, and pyrolysis kinetics for methylene blue removal using surface-modified biochar · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to improve the adsorption performance of biochar for dye removal. There is a lack of understanding of the adsorption kinetics and isotherms of surface-modified biochar. There is a need to evaluate the pyrolysis kinetics of surface-modified biochar.

    Adsorption performance, adsorber design, and pyrolysis kinetics for methylene blue removal using surface-modified biochar · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigation of the system's effectiveness in removing other types of dyes from wastewater. Optimization of the system's parameters for improved efficiency and scalability.

    Ultrasound-assisted adsorption of congo red dye using green synthesized silver nanoparticles coated with chitosan · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective and environmentally friendly methods for removing Congo Red from wastewater. The need for a green, ultrasound-intensified adsorption system for Congo Red removal.

    Ultrasound-assisted adsorption of congo red dye using green synthesized silver nanoparticles coated with chitosan · 2026 · DOI

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237 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,505 Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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