SUK researchers develop biochar with jamun leaves for sustainable, eco-friendly & cost-effective industrial wastewater treatment

Kolhapur: Shivaji University researchers have developed an innovative ‘biochar' from jamun leaves, capable of adsorbing colour pollutants from industrial wastewater, offering a promising, eco-friendly, cost-effective and commercially viable solution for dye-polluted water treatment and purification.
The majority of biochar is made from plant and animal biomass like residential plant trimmings, food processing residues or forestry cuttings. "The focus of the research was to develop the ‘biochar' using sustainable and eco-friendly option like jamun leaves. Biochar is a porous and sponge-like material that adsorbs colour pollutants from wastewater using natural organic components, maximising its purification potential. The use of jamun leaves was looked into as it is biodegradable and did not include use of chemicals," Dr Jyoti Jadhav, senior researcher at Shivaji University's biotechnology department, said. Dr Jadhav collaborated with PhD student Shubham Sutar on the project.
She said the university's biotechnology department spent 20 years researching industrial wastewater treatment, focusing on textile dye pollutants. During the course of their research on industrial wastewater treatment and purification, the researchers came up with a new theory, ‘Theory of Pore Conflation', and a new equation, ‘Shubhjyot Equation'.
Explaining, Dr Jadhav said using biochar in wastewater treatment offered two significant advantages, cost-effectiveness as it could be produced from waste material and its potential for regeneration and reuse. "We further tried to analyse the increase in adsorption capacity of biochar without limiting it only to this formation. This led to the development of the "Theory of Pore Conflation", which explains how biochar's adsorption capacity increases with temperature. This theory is expected to accelerate research in adsorption science, enabling researchers to enhance the efficiency of various water purification reactors," she said.
Dr Jadhav emphasised that the credit for the research solely belonged to Shivaji University, highlighting that the entire analytical process was conducted utilising the university's scientific instruments, specifically at the central facility centre and various departments, including the department of biotechnology.
Shubham Sutar, her student and co-researcher, said "Shubhjyot's Equation" was a mathematical model that simulated time-dependent adsorption processes, addressing limitations in existing models. "This innovative equation highlights the importance of time-dependent behaviour and its connection to established adsorption models, making it a valuable resource for researchers and engineers developing adsorption-related technologies," Sutar said, adding that he was able to work on the research because of the ‘Mahajyoti' scholarship offered by Maharashtra govt.
Their research paper, "Theory of Pore Conflation' and ‘Shubhjyot's Equation' in the Treatment of Brilliant Green Dye-Contaminated Water Using Jamun Leaves Biochar," was published in ‘Biochar', a special journal devoted to adsorption science by ‘Springer Nature' early this month.
University vice-chancellor Dr Digambar Shirke said, "Shivaji University has been consistently recognised globally in the field of research. Proposing a theory or equation and having it accepted by the world science community is a rare event. This matter is inspiring for all the researchers and students of the university."