Chitosan is a natural, non-toxic, polycationic polymer synthesized by deacetylating chitin and using several methods for producing its derivative. It is widely used in industrial wastewater as well as agricultural waste treatment due to its eco-friendly and versatile properties. It has extraordinary and diverse properties of biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-hazardousness and chemical versatilities. It plays major role in environmental remediation by effectively removing fine suspended particles and heavy metals from polluted wastewater. Hence, the need for more affordable, efficacious, and environmentally benign method, such as using chitosan and its derivatives. Chitosan is extracted from chitin commonly found in freshwater Snail; the shells are often discarded as waste by the sea-food industry making them an eco-friendly and cost-effective row material. The process of chitosan extraction includes demineralization, deproteinization, deacetylation etc. Making the use of snail chitosan we can produce biomaterials such as chitosan films, hydrogels, scaffolds, nanopar-ticles, chitosan-based composites (collagen, hydroxyapatite) wound dressings, tissue adhesives, bone grafts, contact lenses, drug- eluting stents. It has huge role in industrial water treatment, chitosan effectively adsorbs heavy metals (e.g., Lead, Mercury, Cadmium) and dyes due to its amine groups. It is effectively adsorbing oil grease and other organic pollutants due to its hydrophilic and hydrophobic interaction. Chitosan membranes are used for filtration, capable of separating pollutants based on size and charge. It identifies the future dimension to clear issues about the chitosan production process and promote sustainable production and utilization as the world has embraced a paradigm shift towards circular and green economies, particularly during the period of SDGs.

Chitosan, Snail Shell Waste, Biopolymer, Environmental Remediation, Wastewater Treatment