Understanding the Bioaccumulation and Biosorption of Arsenic [As(III)] in Plants and Biotechnological Approaches for Its Bioremediation

The efforts are being made globally regarding the development of low-cost, eco-friendly, and novel methods of remediation of arsenic from aqueous medium and soil. Biotechnological approaches of bioaccumulation and biosorption have emerged as an important tool in the ongoing research including the latest application of novel CRISPR/Cas9 technology that can enhance the rate of bioaccumulation. Expression modulation of genes and proteins including transcription factor, transporter, and mi-RNAs during As(III) accumulation plays an important role in bioaccumulation besides other factors such as statistical factor, percentage removal, and adsorption isotherm. Biosorption mechanisms that include coordination, chelation, ion exchange, reduction, complexation, and movement through different parts of plants are also important. In this chapter, keeping in view the importance of bioaccumulation and biosorption by plants, we have discussed the mechanism of bioaccumulation and biosorption of As(III) in plants, different kinetic models including pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order model and thermodynamic parameters like entropy change, enthalpy change, and Gibbs free energy change determine the spontaneity and criteria of reaction and biotechnological approaches for As(III) bioremediation.