Purification of Effluents from Small-Holder Textile Producers using Mango-Waste Activated Carbon-A Review

Abstract

As a way of adding value to fabrics and second hand clothes, Small-Holder Textile (SHT) producers make printed, tie-dye and batik fabrics as well as garment articles. Producing and coloring these fabrics, articles require the use of different types of synthetic dyes and chemical auxiliaries to form the dye liquor which is toxic, corrosive, carcinogenic, allergic to humans and can cause environmental pollution when disposed off carelessly. Unfortunately, the dye liquor is discharged off by SHT producers without treatment in Uganda and Africa at large since the conventional Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) is costly and hard to manage as they operate at small and medium scale. There is therefore a need for a cheap, affordable method and materials to be put in place and enforced to ensure the liquid wastes produced are treated before disposal to the environment so as to save the eco-system from depletion. This article studies the effectiveness and efficiency of using mango waste activated carbon (MWAC) as an adsorbent to purify dye wastes produced by SHT producers. MWAC has got moderate iodine number, low ash content, low moisture content and high fixed carbon which indicates its high adsorption capacity and potential. In addition, its surface morphology is characterized by well pronounced heterogeneous cavities and active functional groups and bonds which provide adsorption sites. This makes MWAC effective and efficient for purifying dye wastes. Therefore regulations should be put in place so that every SHT producer has this affordable (cheap), available, and effective method setup at their production centers and regulatory authorities must work hand in hand with SHT producers for enforcement.

Introduction

The small-scale textile industry, especially in Africa, significantly contributes to environmental pollution through the discharge of untreated dye wastewater. These operations—common in batik, tie-dye, and printed fabric production—use harmful chemicals and synthetic dyes, which when released into water systems increase Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and pH, harming ecosystems and marine life.

Despite environmental policies in countries like Ghana, small-scale producers often escape regulation, worsening environmental damage. In Uganda, such producers attempt to reduce solid waste through recycling second-hand clothes, but in doing so, produce hazardous liquid waste.

To address this, environmentally friendly solutions such as recycling dye effluents using low-cost adsorbents are being explored. Activated carbon is a highly effective adsorbent, with research highlighting the potential of agricultural waste—particularly mango seed and peel waste—to produce cost-effective, efficient activated carbon.

Mango waste-derived activated carbon (MWAC or MPAC) has shown promising results in removing dyes (e.g., Methylene Blue) from wastewater. Chemical activation using agents like H?PO? and ZnCl? significantly improves its porosity, surface area, and functional groups. Optimal conditions for dye removal include a pH of 5.5, specific adsorbent doses, and higher temperatures, which enhance adsorption efficiency.

Activated carbon production involves physical or chemical activation, with chemical activation offering better yields at lower temperatures. The resulting porous, microcrystalline, and oxygen-functionalized structure of MPAC supports its high adsorption capacity. MPAC is acidic, rich in functional groups, and contains low ash and moisture content, making it suitable for environmental remediation.

Agricultural wastes like mango seeds not only reduce the cost of activated carbon but also help in managing solid waste sustainably. Several studies validate the use of MPAC and other bio-waste-derived carbons (from avocado seeds, palm shells, corncobs, etc.) in dye effluent treatment.

Overall, the valorization of mango waste into activated carbon provides a sustainable and low-cost method to treat textile wastewater and promotes circular economy practices in the textile sector.

Conclusion

The valorization of the mango waste (peels, seed and the seed shell) into activated carbon is vital by reducing on the solid wastes discharged into landfills. The structure and properties of the MWAC which include well distributed heterogeneous cavities across the surface, the presence of active functional groups, clear porous structure and a large pore volume make it a potential adsorbent. The EPA should enforce the use of the filtration unit setup to all SHT producers since it is very feasible, affordable, efficient and effective in order to avoid the hostile environment from arising.

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Copyright © 2025 Vicent Murekye. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.