Abstract

The textile industry's wastewater presents environmental and health risks due to high pollutant concentrations, particularly dyes, demanding efficient removal methods. Activated carbon is shown to be effective for dye removal, but its cost drives the search for alternative adsorbents, especially adsorbents obtained from agroindustrial waste. This study examines avocado seed-derived carbon for methylene blue removal, assessing the impact of carbonization temperature (600 and 800 °C) and particle size (2.38–1.19 and 1.19–0.5 mm). Characterization revealed temperature-dependent property variations (point of zero charge and BET surface area). Temperature significantly affected removal efficiency more than particle size, achieving complete removal at 800 °C. Isotherm analysis suggested a monolayer adsorption tendency, though the adsorption mechanism remains inconclusive. Continuous adsorption tests showed promising results, with 66.4 % removal at 300 min for 800 °C, 1.19–0.5 mm carbon. However, breakthrough curves did not align with existing models, indicating the need for further research to support scale-up. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd