Use of low-cost green adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of toxic industrial dyes from the wastewater: A sustainable solution to environmental remediation

Over thousands of dyes are widely used in textile, chemical, paper, and pulp industries. These dyes are a major constituent of industrial effluent and are considered a major water pollutant. In the present study, coconut fiber has been explored for the simultaneous removal of toxic industrial dyes from their aqueous solutions. Coconut fiber is a commonly available low-cost bio-waste, which can be easily processed as a potential absorbent for the abatement of water pollution. In this conference we preset 3 different but related communications (part 1, 2, 3). Each communication will be presented in one different MOL2NET congress (NANOBIOMAT, CATCHTOHIT, and MODECO).

In the first communication (part 1), coconut fiber was thoroughly washed, dried, and crushed into the powder form as adsorbents and has been analyzed for the functional groups, morphology, and zero point charge using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and pH measurements, respectively.

In the second communication (part 2), It was found that the adsorbent exhibits high % removal capacity of 96.25±0.001, 81.24±0.015 and 89.81±0.004 for methylene blue, rhodamine B, and crystal violet dye, respectively in the individual dye removal studies. The simultaneous removal of the mixture of MB, RhB, and CV with the adsorbent showed an efficiency of 81±0.005% in 60 minutes. The adsorption studies were optimized for pH and dosage. This open a door to study the potential of this material for development of industrial product by an small-medium sized (SME), start-up, or chemical company.

In the third communication (part 3), further, the potential of coconut powder has been explored for the removal of a model agrochemical molecule (Chlorpyrifos, removal % 24.50±0.04) and toxic metal (Cr(VI), removal % 99.02±0.045%). The findings of the study demonstrate the potential of coconut fibre as an abundant, low-cost, multifunctional adsorbent for the treatment of wastewater for a range of industrial and agricultural contaminants.