Bioadsorption of arsenic by fruit residues: A systematic review.

Resumen

Arsenic contamination, from natural and anthropogenic sources, is a critical problem affecting water quality, with serious risks to human health, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This study systematically reviews the use of fruit waste as a biosorbent for arsenic removal, highlighting its potential as an economical and sustainable alternative to other technologies. Through a literature search in SCOPUS, 15 relevant publications were analysed, complemented with bibliometric studies processed using VOSviewer. The results show removal efficiencies ranging from 6% to 92%, with lemon and passion fruit peels being the most effective due to their abundance of active functional groups and porous structure, while wastes such as apple and banana showed lower capacities; although chemical and physical modifications significantly improve performance, heterogeneity in waste composition and competition with other pollutants limit their applicability on a large scale. It is concluded that bioadsorption not only offers a sustainable solution to the arsenic problem, but also fosters the circular economy through the valorisation of organic wastes, requiring further efforts to standardise treatments and expand its industrial viability.