1Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Jacob Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, U.P.
2Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Clement Town, Dehradun
3Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Jacob Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, U.P.
Online published on 1 October, 2025.
The use of treated and untreated wastewater for irrigation purposes in the agriculture sector and discharge in river bodies poses environmental and human health challenges worldwide. It can disseminate organic and inorganic pollutants, such as heavy metals and antibiotics, in different environmental compartments. Biochar, as a stable carbon-rich element, exhibits incredible potential to remove pollutants from wastewater. In this study, wastewater was treated with biochar prepared from wood biomass of Moringa oliefera (MOB) and Azadirachta indica (AIB) with 0.5% dry biomass (w/v%) for 8 hours and 24 hours to analyse physicochemical parameters and reduction of microbial populations in treated and untreated wastewater samples. The maximum removal efficiency of physical and chemical parameters was observed in MOB-treated wastewater samples after 24 hours. An increase in pH and EC values was observed in both MOB and AIB-treated wastewater due to the elemental composition and alkaline properties of biochar. However, the maximum removal efficiency of the bacterial load was observed in AIB-treated wastewater. In the present study, MOB showed better removal capacity because of higher biomass and micro-porosity than AIB. Biochar-based technology can be incorporated into conventional wastewater treatment. Plants can aid in the more efficient removal of pollutants in a sustainable, costeffective and eco-friendly manner.
Azadirachta indica, Biochar, Moringa oliefera, Physicochemical parameters, Removal efficiency, Wastewater
