N. Roy Chowdhury, M S Rabbi, Md Mustakim Ahammad Hemel
The growing demand for textile fibers has caused a rapid increase in textile waste, posing serious environmental and health challenges. This study investigates the potential of recovered cotton waste as a low-cost, eco-friendly adsorbent for removing heavy metals—lead (Pb) from contaminated water. Cotton was chosen for its natural, biodegradable nature and inherent adsorption capacity. Post-consumer cotton textiles were collected, shredded, and chemically modified with sulfuric and citric acids to enhance surface area and efficiency. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted under varying pH levels, contact times, and cotton dosages to determine optimal removal conditions. The performance of recycled cotton was compared with conventional water treatment methods, alongside a cost-benefit analysis to assess economic feasibility for large-scale applications. Results showed citric acid–treated cotton achieved up to 71.29% lead removal (2 g dosage, pH 5, 2 h contact time) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 10.15 mg/g. This approach addresses two pressing issues—textile waste and heavy metal pollution—while offering a scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective biosorbent for water purification.