Treatment of Sunset Yellow–contaminated water using biochar produced from green algae

Authors

  • Manel Abdallah Touati Laboratory of materials and catalysis, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Djillali Liabes University of Sidi Bel Abbes https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0212-1087
  • Goussem Mimanne Laboratory of materials and catalysis, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Djillali Liabes University of Sidi Bel Abbes https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-293X
  • Hayat Mokdad Laboratory of materials and catalysis, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Djillali Liabes University of Sidi Bel Abbes https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9699-3198
  • Karim Benhabib Eco-Processes, Optimization and Decision Support (EPROAD, EA), University of Picardie Jules Verne - IUT of Aisne, Saint-Quentin https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0282-1649

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60923/issn.2281-4485/23727

Keywords:

adsorption mechanism, mesoporous structure, surface functional groups, reusability cycles, water purification, environmental remediation

Abstract

The increasing presence of synthetic dyes in aquatic systems, particularly sunset yellow (SY), has raised urgent concerns due to their toxicity and persistence. In this work, a novel biochar derived from the marine green alga Ulva lactuca was investigated, for the first time, as a sustainable and high-performance adsorbent for SY removal. Comprehensive characterization—including proximate analysis, iodine number (190 mg/g), methylene blue index (59.5 mg/g), point of zero charge (pHpzc = 10.90), zeta potential, FTIR, TGA/DSC, XRF, XRD, SEM, and BET surface area (150.2 m²/g) revealed a mesoporous structure (pore diameter ≈ 19 nm, IUPAC Type IV) with heterogeneous cavities, low ash and moisture contents, and stable carbon formation. The coexistence of amorphous carbon and mineral phases (KCl, NaCl, SiO₂) was confirmed, providing abundant active sites and enhancing surface interactions. Batch adsorption studies demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving up to 98 % SY removal within only 5 minutes at neutral pH with a low dosage of 0.4 g. These findings highlight Ulva lactuca biochar as a low-cost, eco-friendly, and reusable adsorbent, offering a promising pathway for rapid and efficient remediation of dye-contaminated water.

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Published

2026-03-19

How to Cite

Abdallah Touati, M., Mimanne, G., Mokdad, H., & Benhabib, K. (2026). Treatment of Sunset Yellow–contaminated water using biochar produced from green algae. EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality, 73, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.60923/issn.2281-4485/23727

Issue

Vol. 73 (2026)

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Manel Abdallah Touati, Goussem Mimanne, Hayat Mokdad, Karim Benhabib

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