Decolorization of dyes from textile wastewater using biochar: a review

Abstract

The textile industry is one of the largest in many low and middle-income countries, especially in Asia, second only to agriculture. Textile wastewater is discharged into the environment due to the lack of affordable and sustainable solutions to adsorb or remove the dye from the water. Biochar is generated by pyrolysis of organic material from plant waste in low-oxygen conditions, and is considered carbon-negative. Biochar for dye adsorption in textile wastewater effluent was proven to be highly effective. However, adsorption efficiency varies with experimental parameters, therefore there is a gap in application especially in small dye houses. Efforts should be made to find innovative and affordable solution to make the textile industry more sustainable, by developing methods for collection and reuse, recycle and upcycle of textile waste, by reducing the consumption of water, energy and chemicals and by developing methods for treatment of the textile wastewater.

Keywords

• textile dye effluent
• biochar
• wastewater
• sustainability
• contamination
• sorption