To meet the current challenges concerning the removal of dyes from wastewater, an environmentally friendly and efficient treatment technology is urgently needed. The recalcitrant, noxious, carcinogenic and mutagenic compound dyes are a threat to ecology and its removal from textile wastewater is challenge in the current world. Herein, biochar-mediated zirconium ferrite nanocomposites (BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs) were fabricated with wheat straw-derived biochar and applied for the adsorptive elimination of Tartrazine dye from textile wastewater. The optical and structural properties of synthesized BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs were characterized via UV/Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform Infra-red (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive R-Ray (EDX) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The batch modes experiments were executed to explore sorption capacity of BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs at varying operative conditions, i.e., pH, temperature, contact time, initial dye concentrations and adsorbent dose. BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs exhibited the highest sorption efficiency among all adsorbents (wheat straw biomass (WSBM), wheat straw biochar (WSBC) and BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs), having an adsorption capacity of (mg g⁻¹) 53.64 ± 0.23, 79.49 ± 0.21 and 89.22 ± 0.31, respectively, for Tartrazine dye at optimum conditions of environmental variables: pH 2, dose rate 0.05 g, temperature 303 K, time of contact 360 min and concentration 100 mg L⁻¹. For the optimization of process variables, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed. In order to study the kinetics and the mechanism of the adsorption process, kinetic and equilibrium mathematical models were used, and results revealed 2nd order kinetics and a multilayer chemisorption mechanism due to complexation of hydroxyl, Fe and Zr with dyes functional groups. The nanocomposites were also recovered in five cycles without significant loss (89 to 63%) in adsorption efficacy. This research work provides insight into the fabrication of nanoadsorbents for the efficient adsorption of Tartrazine dye, which can also be employed for practical engineering applications on an industrial scale as efficient and cost effective materials.

Depleting petroleum resources coupled with the environmental consequences of fossil fuel combustion have led to the search for renewable alternatives, such as biodiesel. In this study, sunflower (Helianthus annus), mustard (Brassica compestres) and pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) seed oils were converted into biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) by acid-, base- and lipase-catalyzed transesterification, and the resultant fuel properties were determined. The methyl esters displayed superior iodine values (102–139), low densities, and a high cetane number (CN). The highest yield of biodiesel was obtained from mustard seed oil, which provided cloud (CP) and pour (PP) points of −3.5 and 5 °C, respectively, and a CN of 53. The sunflower seed oil methyl esters had a density of 0.81–0.86 kg/L at 16 °C, CP of 2 °C, PP of −8 °C, and a CN of 47. The pearl millet seed oil methyl esters yielded a density 0.87–0.89 kg/L, CP and PP of 4 °C and −5 °C, respectively, and a CN of 46. The major fatty acids identified in the sunflower, mustard, and pearl millet seed oils were linolenic (49.2%), oleic acid (82.2%), and linoleic acid (73.9%), respectively. The present study reports biodiesel with ideal values of CP and PP, to extend the use of biodiesel at the commercial level.

The performance of the Lithium Ion Batteries (LiBs) is significantly influenced with the synergetic chemical properties of two different materials in a composite form. The specific capacity of both titanium dioxide arrays (TNAs) and Antimony trisulfide (Sb₂S₃) bottleneck the performance of LiB due to the low conductivity after the implantation as anode material. Herein, a novel multifunctional composite composed of highly dispersed Sb₂S₃ on freestanding tubular TNAs host via chemical bath deposition method (CBD) for use as anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The loading quantity of Sb₂S₃ with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was regulated to achieve adjustable outcomes. The composite anode consisting of TNAs/ Sb₂S₃/G in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has a specific capacity that is three times greater than conventional anodes. Furthermore, this composite anode maintains stable cyclic performance even after undergoing 300 cycles. The initial coulombic efficiency of the composite electrode is 100%, whereas the bare TNAs had a coulombic efficiency of 45%. The cycle performance analysis demonstrated that the TNAs/ Sb₂S₃/G composite has superior specific capacity and efficiency, even under high current density conditions of 500 µA/cm². The rate performance is greatly improved, indicating the efficacy of this innovative composite anode material for high-performance LIBs.

Biochar caged zirconium ferrite (BC-ZrFe₂O₅) nanocomposites were fabricated and their adsorption capacity for Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) dye was evaluated in a fixed-bed column and batch sorption mode. The adsorption of dye onto BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs followed pseudo-second-order kinetics (R ² = 0.998) and among isotherms, the experimental data was best fitted to Sips model as compared to Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms models. The influence of flow-rate (3–5 mL min⁻¹), inlet RB19 dye concentration (20–100 mg L⁻¹) and quantity of BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs (0.5–1.5 g) on fixed-bed sorption was elucidated by Box-Behnken experimental design. The saturation times (C _t /C _o = 0.95) and breakthrough (C _t /C _o = 0.05) were higher at lower flow-rates and higher dose of BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs. The saturation times decreased, but breakthrough was increased with the initial RB19 dye concentration. The treated volume was higher at low sorbent dose and influent concentration. Fractional bed utilization (FBU) increased with RB19 dye concentration and flow rates at low dose of BC-ZrFe₂O₅ NCs. Yan model was fitted best to breakthrough curves data as compared to Bohart-Adams and Thomas models. Results revealed that BC-ZrFe₂O₅ nanocomposite has promising adsorption efficiency and could be used for the adsorption of dyes from textile effluents.