Biomass-Derived Activated Carbon for Photocatalysis of Organic Dyes: A Sustainable Approach

Rapid industrialization and the resulting generation of hazardous pollutants have become a great concern for protecting human health and ensuring environmental sustainability. Among these pollutants, organic dyes being used in various industries are particularly harmful. Due to complex structures, these dyes are difficult to degrade and pose a serious threat to the environment. It therefore becomes important to design effective methodologies and efficient materials for the degradation of organic dyes. In recent years, conversion of biomass waste into useful carbonaceous materials has attracted attention to various applications ranging from energy to the environment. Excellent physicochemical properties, including tunable morphology, good conductivity, porosity, high surface area and naturally abundant nature, make them potential candidates for photocatalytic applications. The present paper highlights the recent progress in the valorization of plant-based biomass in activated carbon for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. The work discusses the advancements in synthesis protocols, characterization, and activation of biomass-derived carbon materials using different activating agents. The effect of biomass precursors, activation methods, and influencing factors such as temperature, pH, initial dye concentration, and photocatalyst concentration on the photocatalytic efficiency of activated carbon is also discussed. Further, potential applications of activated carbon for photocatalysis of organic dyes are systematically reviewed and analyzed.