The gradual replacement of conventional materials with materials tailored to the green development goals is one of the needs of the day. Correspondingly, this article reviews and integrates, for the first time, the gathered knowledge on the use of the adsorbents based on polymeric biomasses (biosorbents) for a cleaner separation of cobalt (Co) from synthetic and actual solutions. It is a two-part comprehensive approach that debates the Co biosorption potential of bio-based polymers from the perspective of their virtual and real applications for decontamination, recovery, and analytical purposes. First, the removal performances of these materials to batch and fixed column biosorption of Co(II) from mono-component and multi-metallic laboratory solutions are systematized and discussed. Following that, the focus of the first part is shifted to the analytical capabilities of the biosorbents proposed for Co(II) quantification from synthetic solutions. The second section considers the polymeric biomasses successfully incorporated in practical strategies for the removal and recovery of Co(II) from real solutions. The opportunities provided by the use of biosorbents for the development of accurate and greener procedures in Co(II) analysis are also highlighted. The directions in which the research on this topic should be continued and strengthened are suggested.
Keywords: analysis; biosorption; cobalt; polymeric biomass; real samples; recovery; removal.