(Digital Presentation) Camellia sinensis Biochar as Sustainable Dye Removal for Wastewater Treatment in the Textile Industry
Authors: Abdel-Fattah Tarek M , Russo Nicholas , Owens Daniel 
Published: December 2024

Poor waste management of organic dyes by the textile industry frequently leads to severe contamination of nearby water bodies, posing significant threats to both the environment and public health. These organic dyes, which include a wide range of synthetic chemicals, are particularly harmful to aquatic ecosystems due to their ability to block light penetration in water, inhibiting photosynthesis in aquatic plants and disrupting the balance of the ecosystem. Additionally, many dyes contain carcinogenic aromatic structures and azo groups, which have been linked to various health risks, including cancer. The issue of dye pollution is most pronounced in countries with large textile manufacturing sectors, such as India, where the economic disparity exacerbates the problem. In these regions, inadequate waste management infrastructure, combined with the high demand for textiles, often leads to untreated or poorly treated dye effluents being released directly into rivers and lakes, affecting vulnerable communities.

Addressing this environmental challenge requires practical and affordable remediation methods [1-14]. The most widely accepted approach for the removal of organic dyes from wastewater is adsorption, a process in which pollutants adhere to the surface of adsorbent materials. Activated carbon and zeolite are among the most commonly used adsorbents due to their high surface area and efficiency in capturing dye molecules. However, the cost and availability of these materials can be prohibitive, particularly in low-income regions with significant textile industries. This has led to a growing interest in the development of more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives.

One promising solution is biochar, a carbon-rich material produced through the pyrolysis of organic waste. Biochar has gained attention for its potential use in water treatment due to its porous structure and surface functional groups, which enhance its ability to adsorb pollutants. Research has explored the production of biochar from various organic materials, including agricultural waste like banana peels. However, recent studies suggest that biochar made from Camellia sinensis leaves (chai tea), particularly Camellia sinensis, could be an even more effective adsorbent for dye removal. Tea leaves are abundant and possess a highly porous structure, making them ideal candidates for biochar production.

In this study, the effectiveness of chai tea biochar as an adsorbent for methylene blue, a common organic dye, was assessed. The results showed that the chai tea biochar followed a Freundlich isotherm model with an R2 value of 0.99, indicating a strong correlation between the adsorption capacity and the concentration of methylene blue in the solution. The Freundlich constant (Kf) was determined to be 0.968 mg/g, and the n value was 0.629, suggesting a high affinity for methylene blue. These findings highlight the potential of chai tea biochar as a low-cost, environmentally friendly solution for dye removal in wastewater treatment, particularly in regions where traditional adsorbents may be economically or logistically inaccessible.

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