A Novel Electrospun Biochar/PVA Nanofiber Composite for Methylene Blue Removal From Wastewater

Abstract

In this study, a novel biochar/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiber composite was fabricated and characterized for removing Methylene Blue (MB) dye from wastewater. Biochar derived from fermented waste-date material was mixed with PVA polymer and electrospun into nanofibers, producing a highly porous adsorbent. The composite was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis to elucidate its structural, chemical, and morphological properties. Adsorption performance was optimized at a pH of 6, achieving a maximum dye removal efficiency of 78%. Kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model, suggesting chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. Isotherm analysis indicated that the non-linear Langmuir model provided the best fit, predicting a maximum adsorption capacity of 361 mg/g. The findings underscore the feasibility of utilizing biochar from agricultural waste as a low-cost, sustainable material for environmental remediation.