Spotlights

[Research News] Waste Bullrush Transformed into Copper-Enhanced Material for Dye Removal from Wastewater

Using an ecofriendly technology, researchers have developed a reusable adsorbent capable of removing harmful synthetic dyes from industrial wastewater

Synthetic dyes in industrial wastewater can threaten aquatic ecosystems and human health. A research group from the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Doshisha University, including Mr. Asif Ali, a PhD student and MEXT Scholar, developed a green, single-step co-pyrolysis method for converting bullrush agricultural waste into a zero-valent copper nanoparticle-enhanced bullrush activated carbon (ZVCu@BAC) composite. The material removed both cationic and anionic dyes in laboratory tests, while its preliminary production cost of ~¥1,800 JPY/kg and regeneration performance highlight its potential for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Reference

Asif Ali, Michiaki Matsumoto, Yoshiro Tahara, Green fabrication of copper nanoparticle-enhanced bullrush-derived activated carbon via single-step pyrolysis for broad-spectrum adsorption and simultaneous removal of cationic and anionic dyes, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2026
Article: 124521, Volume: Volume 14, Issue 5
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2026.124521

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-107/

This achievement has also been featured in “EurekAlert!”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1145335

Image Title: Synthetic dye contaminants in industrial wastewater are leading to an ecological crisis
Image Caption: Researchers report an ecofriendly, single-step co-pyrolysis process for preparing ZVCu@BAC composite from bullrush weed biomass and copper precursor that can effectively remove synthetic dye contaminants from industrial wastewater.
Image Credit: zim2411 from Openverse
Image Source Link: https://openverse.org/image/daa0873c-48a8-4e80-b3b4-abe4d2be34b5?q=dirty+water&p=8
License type: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Credit statement: Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.