Valorizing Date Seeds into Biochar for Pesticide Removal: A Sustainable Approach to Agro-Waste-Based Wastewater Treatment
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Chemicals
2.2. Preparation of DSBC
2.3. Determination of Point of Zero Charge (pHpzc)
2.4. Characterization of DSBC
2.5. Pesticide Adsorption Experiments
2.6. Reusability and Regeneration Performance
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Characterization of Adsorbent
3.2. Surface Area and Porosity Analysis
- Feedstock Composition: Date seeds are rich in lignin and hemicellulose, which decompose during pyrolysis to produce a more porous carbon matrix. However, the density and uniformity of pores vary based on the intrinsic structure of the biomass.
- Pyrolysis Temperature and Time: The DSBC was pyrolyzed at 550 °C for 30 min, an optimized condition that promotes high surface area without collapsing pore walls. Higher temperatures (>700 °C) often lead to further carbonization but can reduce surface area due to pore shrinkage or collapse.
- Activation Method: The DSBC used in this study was chemically activated using H3PO4, which contributes to the selective etching of carbon and the development of mesoporosity.
- Ash and Mineral Content: High inorganic content can block pores or fill internal voids, reducing effective surface area. The ash content of DSBC was low (2.3%), minimizing pore blockage and preserving SSA.
- Therefore, the surface area data were standardized using the BET method and aligned with comparable studies, while the observed differences were rationalized based on feedstock properties, pyrolysis conditions, and activation processes.
3.3. Adsorption Mechanism Based on Multi-Technique Characterization
3.4. Control Experiments to Verify Adsorption Specificity
3.5. Effect of Solution pH on Pesticide Removal
3.6. Effect of DSBC Dose on Pesticide Removal
3.7. Effect of Initial Concentration on Pesticide Removal
3.8. Effect of Wastewater Composition on Pesticide Removal
- In agricultural runoff, the removal efficiency was 88.2%, likely due to moderate levels of dissolved organic matter (DOM) that may have competed for adsorption sites.
- In landfill leachate, the efficiency dropped to 76.5%, attributable to higher COD, humic substances, and the presence of multiple interfering ions.
- In municipal wastewater effluent, DSBC achieved a removal efficiency of 82.3%, indicating its robustness even in chemically complex matrices.
3.9. Modeling of Adsorption Isotherms
3.10. Effect of Contact Time on Pesticide Removal
3.11. Adsorption Kinetics
3.12. Effect of Temperature on Pesticide Removal
3.13. Regeneration and Reusability
3.14. Preliminary Cost Analysis
3.15. DSBC Sustainability Process Assessment
3.15.1. Technological Dimension
3.15.2. Environmental Dimension
3.15.3. Level of Circularity of Biochar and Future Directions in Context of 10Rs Approach
- R1 (Refuse) and R2 (Rethink) are met by utilizing agricultural waste (date seeds) and replacing conventional activated carbon with a multi-functional, low-cost, and low-emission material;
- R3 (Reduce) is achieved by decreasing landfill input and enabling post-adsorption reuse of spent biochar;
- R4 (Reuse) is demonstrated through DSBC’s maintained efficiency (>80%) over three regeneration cycles;
- R6 (Refurbish) and R7 (Remanufacture) are supported by integrating DSBC into fluidized bed systems or identifying value-added recovery of embedded elements (e.g., bioenergy stock) [27];
- R8 (Repurpose) is exemplified by combining DSBC with photocatalysts for synergistic removal of a broader spectrum of pollutants, reducing regeneration frequency and increasing material longevity [76];
- R9 (Recycle) encourages incorporating spent DSBC into construction materials to reduce carbon-intensive waste [50];
- R10 (Recover) supports thermal valorization of exhausted DSBC as an energy source, closing the loop in its life-cycle.
4. Future Perspectives
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
DSBC | Date Seed Biochar |
BET | Brunauer–Emmett–Teller |
FT-IR | Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy |
AOPs | Advanced Oxidation Processes |
SDGs | Sustainable Development Goals |
pHpzc | Point of zero charge |
SWOT | Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats |
LCA | Life-Cycle Assessment |
EDCs | Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds |
GHG | Green House Gas |
IWRM | Integrated Water Resource Management |
CE | Circular Economy |
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Cost Component | Unit Cost (USD) | Consumption per kg DSBC | Total Cost (USD) |
---|---|---|---|
Raw date seeds (waste, collection) | 0.00 (waste valorization) | – | 0.00 |
Washing (water use) | 0.002/L | 5 L | 0.01 |
Drying (60 °C and 110 °C for 24 h) | 0.10/kWh | 2.5 kWh | 0.25 |
Grinding/Milling | 0.10/kWh | 0.5 kWh | 0.05 |
Pyrolysis (550 °C, 2 h) | 0.10/kWh | 4.0 kWh | 0.40 |
Equipment depreciation and maintenance | – | – | 0.10 |
Labor (semi-automated process) | – | – | 0.30 |
Packaging and storage | – | – | 0.05 |
Total Estimated Cost per kg | 1.16 USD |
Challenges | Sub-Factor | Significance Level (Low, Medium and High) |
---|---|---|
Technological issues | T1. Transfer efficiency of innovative solutions from research to industry (research and development) | Medium |
T2. The possibility of integrating engineering solutions into the original WWTPs | High | |
T3. Timely response of advanced treatments due to sudden changes in work | Medium | |
T4. Hybrid combination with photocatalysis or biodegradation | Medium | |
T5. Stability and efficiency process during variation of water composition | High | |
T6. Monitoring of saturated biochar | Medium | |
T7. Automatization and control process | Low | |
T8. Competence with other wastewater treatment | Medium | |
T9. Low carbon footprint | Medium | |
Environmental issues | En1. Carbon footprint reduction (GHG emission) | Medium |
En2. Water quality improvement | High | |
En3. Food Waste as biochar resource | Low | |
En4. Removal of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) | High | |
En5. Fulfilments of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | High | |
En6. Soil and groundwater pollution | Medium | |
En7. Climate change contribution | Medium | |
En8. Reclaimed wastewater | Low | |
En9. Hazardous sludge generation due regeneration process and disposal issue | High |
Strengths | Description | References |
Abundant Feedstock | Date seeds are an agricultural waste with negligible commercial value, making them an abundant and low-cost raw material. | [69] |
High Surface Area and Porosity | Pyrolysis at optimized temperatures yields biochar with favorable textural properties, enhancing adsorption capacity. | [70] |
Environmentally Friendly | Valorization of agro-waste reduces landfill burden and supports circular economy initiatives. | [73] |
Renewable and Carbon-Negative | Biochar production can sequester carbon, offering climate mitigation co-benefits. | [71] |
Weaknesses | Description | References |
Lower Selectivity Without Functionalization | Untreated DSBC may exhibit limited selectivity toward specific pollutants compared to chemically modified adsorbents. | [75] |
Batch Variability | The physicochemical properties of DSBC may vary with seasonal and regional feedstock sources, affecting consistency. | [72] |
Limited Regeneration Efficiency | Adsorption performance slightly decreases after several regeneration cycles, necessitating further enhancement. | Present Study |
Opportunities | Description | References |
Scale-Up for Rural and Industrial Applications | DSBC can be incorporated into decentralized treatment systems for pesticide-contaminated wastewater in agricultural zones. | [22] |
Integration with Green Technologies | DSBC can be used in hybrid systems (e.g., biochar-photocatalyst composites) to improve removal efficiency. | [76] |
Policy and Market Incentives | Circular economy and sustainable development policies globally favor the adoption of low-cost, bio-based adsorbents. | [77] |
Threats | Description | References |
Competition with Advanced Materials | Emerging nanomaterials and synthetic resins may outperform DSBC in terms of specificity and regeneration. | [22] |
Lack of Standardization | Absence of standardized protocols for biochar preparation and quality control may limit industrial adoption. | [78] |
Feedstock Supply Chain Logistics | Dependence on post-harvest date seed availability may impact continuous production without proper sourcing mechanisms. | [69] Present Study; |
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Mihajlović, I.; Hgeig, A.; Novaković, M.; Gvoić, V.; Ubavin, D.; Petrović, M.; Kurniawan, T.A. Valorizing Date Seeds into Biochar for Pesticide Removal: A Sustainable Approach to Agro-Waste-Based Wastewater Treatment. Sustainability 2025, 17, 5129. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115129
Mihajlović I, Hgeig A, Novaković M, Gvoić V, Ubavin D, Petrović M, Kurniawan TA. Valorizing Date Seeds into Biochar for Pesticide Removal: A Sustainable Approach to Agro-Waste-Based Wastewater Treatment. Sustainability. 2025; 17(11):5129. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115129
Chicago/Turabian StyleMihajlović, Ivana, Ali Hgeig, Mladenka Novaković, Vesna Gvoić, Dejan Ubavin, Maja Petrović, and Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan. 2025. "Valorizing Date Seeds into Biochar for Pesticide Removal: A Sustainable Approach to Agro-Waste-Based Wastewater Treatment" Sustainability 17, no. 11: 5129. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115129
APA StyleMihajlović, I., Hgeig, A., Novaković, M., Gvoić, V., Ubavin, D., Petrović, M., & Kurniawan, T. A. (2025). Valorizing Date Seeds into Biochar for Pesticide Removal: A Sustainable Approach to Agro-Waste-Based Wastewater Treatment. Sustainability, 17(11), 5129. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115129