A recent study by Mohammednur Abdu and colleagues, published in Results in Engineering, reports a significant advancement in wastewater treatment using a TiO2-biochar composite (TBC-1). This novel material achieved an impressive 99.14% removal of Eriochrome Black T (EBT), a harmful azo dye commonly found in textile industry effluents.

The TBC-1 composite was synthesized using the sol-gel method and characterized for its unique properties, including a high surface area of 78 m²/g (compared to 38 m²/g for pure TiO2) and a reduced band gap of 2.69 eV. These features enhance its photocatalytic efficiency under UV irradiation. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the research optimized key parameters for dye degradation: an acidic pHpH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. A pH of 7 is neutral, while lower pH values indicate acidity and higher values indicate alkalinity. Biochars are normally alkaline and can influence soil pH, often increasing it, which can be beneficial More of 3, catalyst dosage of 1.48 g/L, EBT concentration of 32 mg/L, and a reaction time of 124 minutes.

In addition to achieving near-complete decolorization, the process showed 93.7% mineralization efficiency and followed first-order reaction kinetics. Importantly, the TBC-1 composite maintained high efficiency across five recycling cycles, with only a minor 6.05% reduction in performance.

This work highlights the potential of TiO2-biochar composites for sustainable water treatment. By integrating 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, derived from 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 waste, with TiO2, the study offers an eco-friendly solution to mitigate industrial water pollution.

Future research could explore scaling this technology for broader applications, ensuring efficient and cost-effective dye removal in real-world scenarios.

SOURCE: Abdu, et al (2025) Optimization of Photocatalytic Degradation of Eriochrome Black T from Aqueous Solution Using TiO₂-Biochar Composite. Results in Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104036