Heavy metal contamination has been a signifi cant issue globally often interconnected with broader environmental and social

factors. Biosorption, emerged as a potential solution to sequester heavy metal ions using range of ceramics and polymers

lean towards natural polymers for sustainability. Among these natural polymers, keratin-based adsorbents have attained

attention due to its structural features. Though numerous review articles have reported the use of keratin for adsorption of

toxic pollutants and methods to develop materials with desirable physical, chemical, thermal and mechanical properties, the

present review particularly discuss the structural–functional relation to explore the modifi cation and tenability to improve

its adsorption effi ciency for heavy metals. Their interactions with functional groups present on keratin molecule and further,

diff erent extrinsic aspects such as extraction methods’ impact on removal effi ciency of keratin and underlying mechanisms

elucidated through various adsorption model employed by researchers is also discussed. This review also reports studies

on improving the inherent heavy metal adsorption capacity of keratin by compositing with other polymers. Additionally,

the functionalization of keratin molecule has been explored for not only improving the adsorption capacity but also the

morphological characteristics of the materials developed. Overall, the article highlights the advancements in keratin-based

materials as eff ective adsorbents for heavy metal removal from wastewater and the need for further research to optimize

their properties and performance.