Selenium removal from water using adsorbents: A critical review

Selenium (Se) has become an increasingly serious water contamination concern worldwide. It is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals, however, can be extremely toxic if taken in excess. Sorption can be an effective treatment for Se removal from a wide range of water matrices. However, despite the synthesis and application of numerous adsorbents for remediation of aqueous Se, there has been no comprehensive review of the sorption capacities of various natural and synthesized sorbents. Herein, literature from 2010 to 2021 considering Se remediation using 112 adsorbents has been critically reviewed and presented in several comprehensive tables including: clay minerals and waste materials (presented in Table 1); zero-valent iron, iron oxides, and binary iron-based adsorbents (Table 2); other metals-based adsorbents (Table 3); carbon-based adsorbents (Table 4); and other adsorbents (Table 5). Each of these tables, and their relevant sections, summarizes preparation/modification methods, sorption capacities of various Se adsorbents, and proposed model/mechanisms of adsorption. Furthermore, future perspectives have been provided to assist in filling noted research gaps for the development of efficient Se adsorbents for real-world applications. This review will help in preliminary screening of various sorbent media to set up Se treatment technologies for a variety of end-users worldwide. [Display omitted] •Selenium contaminated waters can be treated with adsorbents.•Selenium oxyanions have high affinity to iron oxides.•More than 50% of the developed selenium adsorbents were iron-based.•Surface complexation was the main selenium adsorption mechanism.•Use of adsorbents for selenium treatment in real-world applications is needed.