Carbon filtration: harnessing cotton's power to purify drinking water

Abstract Water pollution is a global concern, necessitating accessible and effective water treatment solutions. Our study focused on developing and evaluating carbonized cotton filters for methylene blue (MB) removal from drinking water. We examined the impact of carbonization parameters on filter performance, revealing significantly higher MB removal with carbonized filters compared to pure cotton. This improvement can be attributed to increased surface area, enhanced adsorption capacity, and altered chemical properties resulting from carbonization. We also tested the generality of the process using lentils and sesame, further demonstrating the versatility of carbonized cotton filters. Additionally, we assessed filter durability through multiple filtration cycles, confirming their consistent efficiency over time. Our findings underscore carbonized cotton filters’ efficacy and broad applicability for water purification, providing an affordable and sustainable solution to combat water pollution. This research advances water treatment technologies and advocates for using locally available resources to enhance water quality cost-effectively and eco-friendly.