Metal Ferrite/Biochar Nanocomposites for Dye Pollutant Removal: Insights into Adsorption and Photocatalytic Strategies

Abstract The emergence of dye pollutants from industrial wastewater become a major environmental concern and posing significant threat to aquatic life and human health. Wastewater from several industries such as textiles, food production, fabric and leather tanning, cosmetics, paints manufacturing, paper and printing industries extensively use synthetic dyes that are highly resistant to degradation. Adsorption and photocatalytic degradation methods have emerged as promising approaches for the removal of dye pollutants from industrial wastewater. Various bio‐based materials have been employed for the adsorption of dyes, among which biochar derived from various agricultural and forestry wastes observed as a sustainable and cost‐effective material with high adsorption capacity. However, its limitation of slower adsorption rate, challenges of surface activation, regeneration capacity and post‐treated slurry restricted their utilization in effective removal of dye pollutants. The loading of MFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles on biochar produces synergistic effect of combined adsorption and photocatalysis for effective degradation of dyes. This review article delves into advancements in synthesis of MFe 2 O 4 /Biochar nanocomposites by various methods and highlight their characteristics. It further discusses the underlying mechanisms of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants in the influence of various operational parameters such as adsorbent or photocatalyst dosage, initial dye concentration, pH and temperature.