Valorization of Orange Peel-Derived Adsorbents for Sustainable Removal of Methylene Blue from Textile Industry Wastewater: A Promising Approach to Mitigate Water Pollution and Environmental Litter

Abstract

Wastewater discharged from the textile industry poses significant environmental and societal challenges due to the presence of hazardous dye pollutants. This study explores a novel approach for the removal of methylene blue, a common textile dye, from water using adsorbents derived from orange peels. The goal is to mitigate water pollution, thereby reducing harm to ecosystems and living organisms, while simultaneously addressing the issue of environmental litter generated by discarded orange peels. In this study, the removal of methylene blue dye from textile wastewater using adsorbents made from orange peels was examined. Orange peels were collected, washed, dried, charred at 500 °C, ground into powder, and activated with phosphoric acid to create an activated carbon with a bulk density of 0.987 g/mL, 15% moisture, 3% ash content, and a surface area of 52.5 m²/g. It was found that adsorption rates increased over time, reaching equilibrium after 120 minutes, with a maximum removal efficiency of 90% achieved using 0.6 g of adsorbent. The study concluded that orange peel-derived adsorbents could be an effective and eco-friendly method for reducing water pollution and repurposing agricultural waste, presenting a viable solution to the environmental challenges posed by the textile industry.