Banana peels-derived shape-regulated nanocellulose for effective adsorption of Nile blue A dye

Industrial wastes, including dyes and other chemicals, are significant sources of water pollution. The adsorption process is often explored in water purification. However, developing low-cost, sustainable adsorbents with good dye removal capacity remains challenging. We developed shape-regulated nanocellulose from waste banana peels through chemical treatment and examined their Nile blue A dye removal efficiency to address these limitations. The average diameter and length spherical (s-NC) and rod-shaped nanocellulose (CNCs) were 43.29 ± 5.97 and 137.61 ± 3.86, respectively. The zeta potential of the s-NC and CNCs was -34.5 ± 0.14 and - 27.6 ± 0.21 mV, respectively. The s-NC demonstrated improved thermal stability and cytocompatibility vis-à-vis CNCs. The s-NC exhibited enhanced dye removal potential compared to CNCs. Nearly 63.75 % and 87.32 % of dye were removed with 10 mg of CNCs and s-NC within 10 min of contact time, respectively. The adsorption isotherm was best fitted with Freundlich isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity (q_m) of 54.37 mg/g. Furthermore, the adsorbent demonstrated good recyclability and maintained ~68 % removal efficiency until six cycles. The adsorbent exhibited prolonged periods of stability under dye solution. These findings open a new direction in developing cost-effective and sustainable adsorbents/composite membranes by selecting suitable nanomaterial for water purification.