KOH-Modified Durian Peel Biochar For Enhanced Removal Of Synthetic Dyes From Aqueous Environment
Abstract
Large quantities of durian peel residues are produced as by-products of consumption and processing, creating a challenge for sustainable waste management. The production of synthetic dyes is on the increase due to their high demand, most especially in the textile and clothing industries. These chemicals (dyes) are massively produced annually in thousands of tons worldwide. Specifically, the annual industrial production of dye compounds is ∼ 7x105 tons (Katheresan et al., 2018). A few examples of synthetic dyes are aniline blue, alcian blue, basic fuchsin, methylene blue, crystal violet, toluidine blue, and congo red. Synthetic dyes remain in the physical environment since most of them are difficult to biodegrade and are not usually eliminated during the conventional water treatment processes. Therefore, they cause persistent pollution and ecological risks in aquatic environments. Methylene blue (MB), a representative cationic dye widely used in textile and printing industries, was selected in this study as a model pollutant because of its high stability, intense coloration, and toxicity even at low concentrations.
