Rohit Anak Paul Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Kampus Samarahan 2
Raw pineapple crown leaf (PCL), an abundant lignocellulosic agrowaste, was evaluated as a low-cost biosorbent for Congo Red (CR) removal from aqueous solutions. FTIR analysis identified hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl functional groups involved in dye adsorption. Batch studies demonstrated rapid CR uptake within 30 minutes, with equilibrium achieved at 90 minutes and optimal performance at pH 3. Increasing PCL dosage (1–8 g/L) improved removal efficiency from 46% to 89%, while adsorption capacity decreased. Higher CR concentrations reduced removal efficiency but increased adsorption capacity up to 34 mg/g. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of utilising PCL in simple packed-bed or cartridge-type systems, offering a scalable and sustainable solution for industrial dye wastewater treatment.