Issue

Vol. 38 No. 3 (2026): Vol 38 Issue 3, 2026

Copyright (c) 2026 Sai Sruthi Vasamsetti

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Development of Coconut Shell Derived Nanobiochar as High-Efficient Adsorbent for Removal of Congo Red and Malachite Green from Wastewater

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2026.35248
Vasamsetti Sai Sruthi
Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, SIMATS, Chennai-602105, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5423-7543
J. Aravind Kumar
Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, SIMATS, Chennai-602105, India
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9648-1352
Veeramalli Naveen Sahith
Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, SIMATS, Chennai-602105, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1470-9992

Corresponding Author(s) : J. Aravind Kumar

aravindkumarj.sse@saveetha.com

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 38 No. 3 (2026): Vol 38 Issue 3, 2026

Abstract

This study presents an innovative approach for the efficient removal of Congo red (CR) and malachite green (MG) dyes from wastewater using coconut shell-derived nanobiochar (NBC). The NBC was synthesised via a two-step process involving controlled pyrolysis, KOH activation and ball milling to achieve nanoscale dimensions, thereby enhancing its adsorption performance. The resulting NBC demonstrated exceptional dye removal capabilities, with maximum adsorption capacities of 220 mg g-1 for MG and 140 mg g–1 for CR under optimal conditions. Comprehensive characterisation using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirmed the high surface area (400 m2 g–1), negative zeta potential (-30.8 mV) and superior dispersion stability of NBC material, which are essential for efficient dye adsorption. The adsorption kinetics were well-described by the pseudo-second-order model suggesting that chemisorption is the predominant adsorption mechanism. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process is both spontaneous and endothermic. These findings highlight the potential of NBC as a cost-effective, scalable and sustainable adsorbent for dye-laden wastewater treatment. The study also demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing coconut shell waste as a renewable biomass resource, contributing to environmental remediation while promoting circular economy practices.

Keywords

Nanobiochar Coconut shell Dye adsorption Malachite green Congo red Wastewater treatment
(1)
Sruthi, V. S.; Kumar, J. A.; Sahith, V. N. Development of Coconut Shell Derived Nanobiochar As High-Efficient Adsorbent for Removal of Congo Red and Malachite Green from Wastewater. ajc 2026, 38, 665-673.
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. J. Sharma, S. Sharma and V. Soni, Reg. Stud. Mar. Sci., 45, 101802 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2021.101802
  2. Kusumlata, B. Ambade, A. Kumar and S. Gautam, Limnol. Rev., 24, 126 (2024); https://doi.org/10.3390/limnolrev24020007
  3. S. Mihai, A. Bondarev and M. Necula, Processes, 13, 589 (2025); https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13020589
  4. S. Rajendran, A. Kalairaj and T. Senthilvelan, Biomass Convers. Biorefin., 15, 13079 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-024-06104-0
  5. A. Kumar, A. Kapoor, A.K. Rathoure, G.L. Devnani and D.B. Pal, Asia-Pacific J. Chem. Eng., 20, e70122 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1002/apj.70122
  6. G. Bal and A. Thakur, Mater. Today Proc., 50, 1575 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.09.119
  7. M. Kumar, A. Mishra, S.K. Patel, S. Singh, V. Mishra, D. Singh, V. Singh, B.S. Giri, R.R. Singhania, J. Kushwaha, and D. Singh, Bioengineering, 12, 1043 (2025); https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12101043
  8. S. Satyam and S. Patra, Heliyon, 10, e29573 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29573
  9. F. Bahmanzadegan and A. Ghaemi, J. Hazard. Mater. Adv., 17, 100617 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100617
  10. A. Tomczyk, Z. Sokołowska and P. Boguta, Rev. Environ. Sci. Biotechnol., 19, 191 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-020-09523-3
  11. G. Infurna, G. Caruso and N. Tz. Dintcheva, Polymers, 15, 343 (2023); https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020343
  12. W.A. Shaikh, A. Kumar, S. Chakraborty, M. Naushad, R.U. Islam, T. Bhattacharya and S. Datta, Chemosphere, 308, 136413 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136413
  13. T.G. Ambaye, M. Vaccari, E.D. van Hullebusch, A. Amrane and S. Rtimi, Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., 18, 3273 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-03060-w
  14. V. Jadhav, B. Ahire, A. Pawar, A. Roy, A. Kumar, K. Sharma, S. Raj and R. Verma, Environ. Nanotechnol. Monit. Manag., 23, 101061 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2025.101061
  15. A. Ajien, J. Idris, N. M. Sofwan, R. Husen and H. Seli, Waste Manag. Res., 41, 37 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X221127167
  16. M. Varkolu, S. Gundekari, N. Omvesh, V.C.S. Palla, P. Kumar, S. Bhattacharjee and T. Vinodkumar, Catalysts, 15, 243 (2025); https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15030243
  17. R.S. Piriya, R.M. Jayabalakrishnan, M. Maheswari, K. Boomiraj and S. Oumabady, Water Sci. Technol., 83, 1167 (2021); https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2021.050
  18. D.S. Thakur and S.N. Chadar, Res. Dev. Mater. Sci., 22, 2707 (2025); https://doi.org/10.31031/RDMS.2025.22.001034
  19. W. Fan and X. Zhang, Environ. Res., 269, 120933 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.120933
  20. J.I. Mnyango, M. Phiri and J. Baloyi, Sustain. Chem. Pharm., 35, 101074 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2025.101074
  21. M.B. Mobarak, N.S. Pinky, S. Mustafi, F. Chowdhury, A. Nahar, U.S. Akhtar, M.S. Quddus, S. Yasmin and M.A. Alam, RSC Adv., 14, 24939 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA05562D
  22. R. Mustapha, M. Harun, A. Manas, A. Ali and S. Hamzah, Biointerface Res. Appl. Chem., 11, 10006 (2020); https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC113.1000610015
  23. T. Cheng, K. Zhang, J. Guo, Q. Yang, Y. Li, M. Xian and R. Zhang, Biotechnol. Biofuels Bioprod., 15, 39 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-022-02136-8
  24. N.H.L. Nicholas, I. Mabbett, H. Apsey and I. Robertson, Gates Open Res., 6, 96 (2022); https://doi.org/10.12688/gatesopenres.13727.2
  25. M.S. Reza, S. Afroze, M.S. Bakar, R. Saidur, N. Aslfattahi, J. Taweekun and A.K. Azad, Biochar, 2, 239 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-020-00048-0
  26. A.M. Al-Omran, M.M. Awad, A.G. Alghamdi and A. Alkhasha, Appl. Sci., 13, 7781 (2023); https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137781
  27. S.S. Royji Albeladi, M.A. Malik and S.A. Al-thabaiti, J. Mater. Res. Technol., 9, 10031 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2020.06.074
  28. R. Adawiyah, N. Yuliasari, Y. Hanifah and N.R. Palapa, Bull. Chem. React. Eng. Catal., 20, 112 (2025); https://doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.20322
  29. X. Zhang, W. Cheng, J. Wang, Y. Lei, X. Yang, Q. Duan, W. Duan, and Y. Zhang, Green Process. Synth., 13, 20240154 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1515/gps-2024-0154
  30. Z. Li, W. Tong, C. Li, Z. Dong, S. Han, K. Li, J. Wang, J. Qu and Y. Zhang, Sep. Purif. Technol., 354 129017 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.129017
  31. M. ElKammah, E. Elkhatib and M. Moubarak, Appl. Water Sci., 15, 194 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-025-02556-5
  32. X. Kan, Y. Suo, B. Shi, Y. Zheng, Z. Liu, W. Ma, X. Li and J. Zhang, Molecules, 30, 2769 (2025); https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30132769
  33. J. Wang, Y. Tan, H. Yang, L. Zhan, G. Sun and L. Luo, Sci. Rep., 13, 21174 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48373-1
  34. H. Li, J. Kong, H. Zhang, J. Gao, Y. Fang, J. Shi, T. Ge, T. Fang, Y. Shi, R. Zhang, N. Zhang, X. Dong, Y. Zhang and H. Li, J. Water Process Eng., 53, 103713 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2023.103713
  35. S. Aziz, B. Uzair, M.I. Ali, S. Anbreen, F. Umber, M. Khalid, A.A. Aljabali, Y. Mishra, V. Mishra, Á. Serrano-Aroca, G.A. Naikoo, M. El-Tanani, S. Haque, A.G. Almutary and M.M. Tambuwala, Environ. Res., 238, 116909 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116909
  36. W. Ding, A. Habineza, X. Zeng, Z. Yan, J. Yan and G. Yang, Desalination Water Treat., 260, 169 (2022); https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2022.28445
  37. Z. Peng, Z. Fan, X. Chen, X. Zhou, Z.F. Gao, S. Deng, S. Wan, X. Lv, Y. Shi and W. Han, Nanomaterials, 12, 2271 (2022); https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12132271
  38. H. Lyu, B. Gao, F. He, A.R. Zimmerman, C. Ding, J. Tang and J.C. Crittenden, Chem. Eng. J., 335, 110 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.10.130
Read More
Author biographies is not available.
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 2 Download : 0
PlumX