Climate-Smart Land Remediation: Using Salix babylonica for Natural Water Purification

Land ecosystems are critical frontlines in the battle against climate change and play a critical role in combating environmental degradation and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. Their hydrological cycling capacity, pollutant cleaning function, and ecological balance recuperation ability make them irreplaceable when it comes to developing nature-based solutions for treating water and landscape restoration. In this context, the present research examines the potential of Salix babylonica (weeping willow), a fast-growing and easily accessed tree species, as a sustainable source of environmentally friendly biosorbents for water treatment. The biomass was processed to obtain fine powders of leaves and roots and assessed for adsorption potential for the removal of calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), and the synthetic dye Crystal Violet (CV) from polluted water. Structural and surface analysis through FT-IR and laser granulometry determined material appropriateness for adsorption. Batch experiments at varied pH values, temperatures, and contact times assessed performance. Root powder desorbed 79.5% Mg²⁺ and 72.3% Ca²⁺, and leaf powder desorbed 43.2% and 70.0%, respectively. Both powders desorbed more than 80% CV in the best conditions. The results point to the influence of physicochemical conditions and place S. babylonica as a terrestrial climate-resilient biosorbent with the potential to help achieve circular land use and ecological rehabilitation in marginal or degraded land.