Thiosulfate impregnated spent tea leaves for the remarkable uptake of malachite green.

Tea, being one of the most popular beverages produces huge waste which requires proper management. With this aim; the thiosulfate-impregnated spent tea leaves have been exercised for effective separation of malachite green from contaminated water. Thiosulfate impregnation under mildly acidic conditions activates the tea leaves and makes the material robust with enhanced water stability than its untreated variety. With a remarkable maximum adsorption capacity of 126.8 mg/g under ambient conditions, the present methodology enjoys the edge over related phytosorbents. The protocol is techno-economic, environment friendly, and could be extended to possible field applications.