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Agro-Industrial Waste Upcycling into Activated Carbons: A Sustainable Approach for Dye Removal and Wastewater Treatment

Author

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  • Beatriz Alvez-Tovar

    (Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Central University of Venezuela-UCV, University City of Caracas, Capital District, Caracas 47604, Venezuela
    School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Goiás-UFG, Colemar-Natal Campus, Goiânia 74690-900, Goiás, Brazil)

  • Paulo Sergio Scalize

    (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Goiás-UFG, Colemar-Natal Campus, Goiânia 74690-900, Goiás, Brazil)

  • Giovanny Angiolillo-Rodríguez

    (Postgraduate Program in Agroecology, State University of Maranhão-UEMA, Paulo VI University City, São Luís 65800-000, Maranhão, Brazil)

  • Antonio Albuquerque

    (GeoBioTec, Civil Engineering and Architecture Department, University of Beira Interior, Fonte Calçada do Lameiro, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • Malorie Ndemengane Ebang

    (Stricto Sensu Graduate Program in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering (PPGEAS), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Goiás-UFG, Colemar-Natal Campus, Goiânia 74690-900, Goiás, Brazil)

  • Tatianne Ferreira de Oliveira

    (Department of Food Engineering, School of Agronomy, Federal University of Goiás-UFG, Samambaia Campus, Goiânia 74690-900, Goiás, Brazil)

Abstract

The increasing generation of agro-industrial waste has intensified soil and water contamination, as well as the eutrophication of water bodies, impacting biodiversity and human health. This highlights the need for responsible management to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 6, 12, 13, 14, and 15, which promote health, access to clean water, responsible consumption, climate action, and the protection of life on land and below water. This study aimed to produce activated carbon from cocoa, baru, and monguba residues for the removal of contaminants dyes (methylene blue, bromocresol green, and methyl red) presented in wastewater. The three materials were carbonized at 500 °C for one hour under a nitrogen atmosphere and activated with H 3 PO 4 . The samples were characterized using TGA, SEM, XRD, FT-IR, pH PZC , and ASAP, in addition to conducting kinetic and thermodynamic parameter assays for the dyes. Monguba carbon exhibited the highest pore volume (1.57 cm 3 ·g −1 ), surface area (1604 m 2 ·g −1 ), and adsorption capacity for methylene blue and methyl red (50 mg·g −1 ). The data were analyzed using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models. It was concluded that monguba carbon shows potential for the sustainable removal of organic dyes and molecules with similar characteristics in contaminated water or wastewater.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatriz Alvez-Tovar & Paulo Sergio Scalize & Giovanny Angiolillo-Rodríguez & Antonio Albuquerque & Malorie Ndemengane Ebang & Tatianne Ferreira de Oliveira, 2025. "Agro-Industrial Waste Upcycling into Activated Carbons: A Sustainable Approach for Dye Removal and Wastewater Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2036-:d:1600747
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francisco J. Cano & Odín Reyes-Vallejo & Rocío Magdalena Sánchez-Albores & Pathiyamattom Joseph Sebastian & Abumalé Cruz-Salomón & Maritza del Carmen Hernández-Cruz & Wilber Montejo-López & Mayram Gon, 2024. "Activated Biochar from Pineapple Crown Biomass: A High-Efficiency Adsorbent for Organic Dye Removal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Janaína Oliveira Gonçalves & Bruna Silva de Farias & Estefani Cardillo Rios & Anelise Christ Ribeiro & Kamila da Rosa Acosta & Carla Pereira Wenderroschs Gomes & Tito Roberto Cadaval Junior, 2024. "Sustainable Removal of Chloroquine from Aqueous Solutions Using Microwave-Activated Cassava Biochar Derived from Agricultural Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-14, November.
    3. Xia Li & Hongyu Jia & Lihua Jiang & Zhengwei Mou & Bo Zhang & Zihui Zhang & Yan Chen, 2024. "Biochar Prepared from Steam-Exploded Bitter Melon Vine for the Adsorption of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution: Kinetics, Isotherm, Thermodynamics and Mechanism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Hillary Henao-Toro & Juan F. Pérez & Ainhoa Rubio-Clemente, 2024. "Malachite Green Dye Removal in Water by Using Biochar Produced from Pinus patula Pellet Gasification in a Reverse Downdraft Reactor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Hellem Victoria Ribeiro dos Santos & Paulo Sérgio Scalize & Francisco Javier Cuba Teran & Renata Medici Frayne Cuba, 2023. "Fluoride Removal from Aqueous Medium Using Biochar Produced from Coffee Ground," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, July.
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