Optimizing invasive weed derived activated carbon for engineering applications an innovative waste-to-resource conversion

The discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater into natural water bodies poses severe threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Advanced tertiary treatment methods such as adsorption and reverse osmosis have been extensively studied for wastewater treatment. However, the high cost of conventional adsorbents necessitates the exploration of sustainable and cost-effective alternatives. This study demonstrates the potential of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), as an invasive aquatic weed, as a low-cost precursor for (PAC) powder activated carbon production. The developed activated carbon was synthesized from collected parts leaves, stems, and roots using a controlled carbonization process followed by chemical activation with calcium chloride in laboratory at APCOER, Pune. The resulting activated carbons were characterized for their morphological, structural, and adsorption properties, including pore size and other details using SEM and other analytical techniques. The study demonstrates that the produced activated carbon exhibits high surface area and effective adsorption capabilities, making it suitable for removing heavy metals and organic pollutants from wastewater. The findings not only provide a sustainable approach to managing water hyacinth infestations but also contribute to the development of eco-friendly adsorbents for other engineering application applications.