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