Towards a win-win chemistry: extraction of C.I. orange from Kamala fruit (Mallotus philippensis), and simultaneous exercise of its peels for the removal of Methylene Blue from water.

Mallotus philippensis, a seasonal fruit, commonly known as Kamala, was employed to serve a dual advantage of extracting a natural dye called C.I. orange from the peels; thereinafter, the peels were converted as an adsorbent to remove Methylene blue from water and industrial wastewater with high efficacy. From 100 g of raw material, 1.7 g of C.I. orange dye was extracted, along with 44 g of peel-based adsorbent. The maximum adsorption capacity for MB is 30.2 mg/g at ambient conditions, better and more impactful than contemporary adsorbents. The approach is firmly established in the circular economy as a dual benefit agent, generating clean and green revenue through natural dye extraction.