Transforming agricultural waste into sustainable bioadsorbents and advanced bioaerogels from durian ( <i>Durio zibethinus</i> ) peel
Ahmad Azfaralariff, Nasrullah Razali, H. P. S. Abdul Khalil, Mardiana Idayu Ahmad, C. K. Abdullah, Esam Bashir Yahya, Mohd Iqbal, Mohamad Shazeli Che Zain
Abstract
Abstract The disposal of agricultural waste, particularly tropical fruit peels, presents significant environmental challenges. Durian rind, which constitutes 65% to 70% of the fruit’s weight, is a rich source of cellulose but remains underutilized. This study investigated its transformation into particulate and aerogel forms for methylene blue (MB) adsorption. Cellulose‐rich samples were obtained by refining crude durian rind and subsequently processing it into aerogels through homogenization, sonication, and freeze drying. Adsorption tests demonstrated that cellulose aerogels exhibited significantly higher adsorption capacities (up to 84.3 mg.g −1 ) compared with crude particulate (30.06–40.77 mg.g −1 ), highlighting their enhanced performance due to increased surface area and functional group availability. The enhanced performance of aerogels was attributed to their high porosity, large surface area, and abundant hydroxyl groups, which facilitate electrostatic and π – π interactions with MB molecules. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption on homogeneous surfaces. Differences among aerogels from different rind components were not statistically significant but white pith‐derived aerogels exhibited the best performance, highlighting the role of raw material composition. This study demonstrates the potential of durian rind waste as a cost‐effective and sustainable bioadsorbent. Beyond water treatment, these aerogels could be applied in biofuel production and controlled drug release. Further optimization and large‐scale production strategies should be explored to facilitate industrial adoption and to maximize their impact.