Sustainable Production of Activated Carbon From Sugarcane Bagasse for Wastewater Treatment and Resource Management

Suprova Haque; Istiak Ahmed  Ovi; Tasdid Bin Kabir

doi:10.38032/scse.2026.4.168

Authors

Suprova Haque Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna – 9203, Bangladesh
Istiak Ahmed Ovi Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna – 9203, Bangladesh
Tasdid Bin Kabir Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna – 9203, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38032/scse.2026.4.168

Keywords:

Sugarcane Bagasse, Activated Carbon, Wastewater Treatment, Phosphoric Acid

Abstract

Activated carbon produced by carbonizing and activating sugarcane bagasse organic materials serves as an efficient adsorbent for numerous water and air purification operations across industrial and medical sectors. The research creates activated carbon from sugarcane bagasse agricultural residue through production methods for wastewater treatment purposes. Phosphoric acid served as the chemical activating agent for the physical and chemical activation procedures that operated at temperatures between 350°C, 450°C, and 550°C. Various properties of activated carbon were examined through physical and chemical measurements to assess its performance rate as a solution for removing pollutants found in ponds and river water. Elevated activation temperatures and optimal chemical impregnation techniques yielded active materials with increased surface areas and greater porosity, improving their adsorption capacities. The activated carbon of Sample 3 showed optimal performance because its activation with 550°C using a 1:1, 1M phosphoric acid-to-water treatment method led to superior pH and BOD and TDS water contaminants reduction. The investigation shows not only environmental sustainability but also the cost-effectiveness of treating wastewater using activated carbon derived from sugarcane bagasse which supports a circular economy model. This research confirms that activated carbon derived from sugarcane bagasse has great potential to serve as a sustainable solution for water pollution, supporting worldwide environmental protection. The study enhances existing renewable energy research while providing a useful approach for addressing environmental issues through innovative waste management systems.

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