A sustainably produced hydrochar from pomegranate peels for the purification of textile contaminants in an aqueous medium

Hydrothermal Carbonization presents an easy, inexpensive, and eco-friendly method to convert waste from natural resources into sustainable materials. This study used the Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) approach to make hydrochar from locally available pomegranate peels. Several analytical tools were employed for its characterization, including elemental analysis, X-ray Diffraction, micro-Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Textual analysis, pHpzc, and Boehm titration. The produced hydrochar performed well in removing cationic dye Basic Red 46 (BR46) from an aqueous medium, adsorbing 286.90 and 367.72 mg g−1 within only 5 and 60 min, respectively, at ideal circumstances. The Freundlich model was the most appropriate for the equilibrium data, whilst the pseudo-second-order model was found closest to the kinetic data (R2 = 0.980; Δqe = 7.934%). Per the thermodynamic study, the dye adsorption was spontaneous (ΔG° < 0) and endothermic (ΔH° = 32.777 kJ mol−1). Furthermore, the prepared hydrochar (HCPP) has revealed good reusability, as it can be reused up to five times without losing its effectiveness. In summary, the outcomes obtained revealed that HCPP could be an effective and eco-friendly adsorbent for the treatment of colored wastewater.