14 DAY TRIAL // While searching for new ways of removing industrial dye from water streams and lakes, Algerian scientists came across a method that showed significant potential for binding with the acid dyes in them and neutralizing them. The most common orange peel, which can be largely obtained as an agricultural and food industry byproduct, showed incredible success in binding with and retaining even the most concentrated dyes, during lab tests.
According to the scientists working on the project, led by Benaissa Houcine, synthetic dye is used extensively in a variety of applications, ranging from paper printer and color photography to dye houses and textile-applicable colors. All these industries combined make up for most of the chemicals that are dumped in nearby streams and rivers. Thus far, the only possibility for clearing those waters were complex chemical procedures.
But now, the Laboratory of Sorbent Materials and Water Treatment, from the Department of Chemistry at University of Tlemcen, has concluded that "orange peel has a considerable potential for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions over a wide range of concentrations." "Orange peel may be used as a low-cost, natural and abundant source for the removal of dyes, and it may be an alternative to more costly materials," Benaissa added.
Dye in rivers can cause irreversible damages to the environment, especially considering that some concentrated dyes are capable of influencing the ecosystems in the water even in extremely small concentrations, such as 1 ppm (parts per million). These acid substances come between sunlight and the photosynthesizing plants on the bottom of the water and prevent vegetation from processing light. A loss in plants means a loss in fish and other members of the ecosystem as well.
Now, the scientists that conducted the lab testing are working on identifying the exact portion of the orange peel that attracts and binds the acidic dye. Once they figure out what it is, future plans involve the creation of a substance that could be massively-produced, in order to be dumped in all rivers. This ambitious cleaning plan is still some distance away, but scientists are confident in its success.