Abdu, M., Babaee, S., Worku, A. et al. The development of Giant reed biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More for adsorption of Basic Blue 41 and Eriochrome Black T. azo dyes from wastewater. Sci Rep14, 18320 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67997-5

Wastewater pollution, particularly from the textile industry, poses significant environmental and public health risks. Azo dyes like Basic Blue 41 (BB41) and Eriochrome Black T (EBT), commonly used in textile production, are especially problematic due to their toxicity and persistence in the environment. To address this issue, researchers have developed an innovative solution using biochar derived from Giant reed (Arundo donax), an invasive plant species.

The study focused on the effectiveness of Giant reed biochar in adsorbing BB41 and EBT dyes from wastewater. The biochar was produced through slow pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More, a process of heating the biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More in the absence of oxygen, which resulted in a material with a high fixed carbon content (80.4%), low ashAsh is the non-combustible inorganic residue that remains after organic matter, like wood or biomass, is completely burned. It consists mainly of minerals and is different from biochar, which is produced through incomplete combustion.   Ash Ash is the residue that remains after the complete More content (3.8%), and a large surface area (429 m²/g). These properties are crucial for effective pollutant adsorptionBiochar has a remarkable ability to attract and hold onto pollutants, like heavy metals and organic chemicals. This makes it a valuable tool for cleaning up contaminated soil and water.   More.

In experimental conditions, the biochar achieved a high removal efficiency of 98.6% for BB41 and 82.5% for EBT. The adsorption process was found to follow the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating that the dyes form a monolayer on the biochar surface. Additionally, the biochar demonstrated good reusability, maintaining high adsorption efficiency over multiple cycles of use.

This research highlights the potential of Giant reed biochar as a cost-effective and sustainable adsorbent for treating wastewater, offering a promising solution for reducing water pollution from industrial dyes. Further studies are recommended to explore the biochar’s effectiveness in real-world wastewater treatment scenarios and its ability to remove multiple pollutants simultaneously.