Pineapple Leaf Waste Becomes a Clean Solution for Pesticide Pollution in Water

Every year, millions of tons of pineapples are harvested worldwide. But did you know that besides the sweet fruit, other parts of the pineapple plant — such as leaves, peels, and crowns — also generate piles of agricultural waste that often go unused? One example is the pineapple leaves, which contain non-fibrous materials (NFM), including fine fibers, dust, and residues that are typically discarded because they cannot be used for textiles or paper production.

However, today, NFM waste from pineapple leaves has found a surprising new role: saving water from pesticide contamination. Through a simple yet eco-friendly technology, this waste can be converted into biochar, a natural activated charcoal capable of absorbing toxic substances from water.

Pesticide Problems in Water: A Real Threat, A Real Solution

Pesticides such as acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and methomyl are widely used in agriculture to protect crops. Unfortunately, these substances often pollute groundwater and rivers through agricultural runoff. Exposure to them can have harmful effects on humans, aquatic animals, birds, and even bees.

Several studies have shown that pesticide residues have been detected in various water sources around the world, even in human urine samples in agricultural regions. This serves as a strong signal that we urgently need smart solutions to tackle this pollution — one of which is adsorption technology.

From Waste to Savior: Pineapple Leaf Biochar

Biochar is a highly porous material produced by heating biomass (such as pineapple leaf waste) in low-oxygen conditions. Biochar is known for its ability to adsorb a wide range of harmful substances from water, from heavy metals to pesticides. Now, biochar made from NFM pineapple leaf waste (known as NFMBC) has been proven effective at adsorbing pesticides.

The adsorption capacity of NFMBC for these three pesticides depends on the chemical characteristics of each compound. Acetamiprid (which has the lowest polarity) is adsorbed the most, followed by methomyl and imidacloprid. This indicates that biochar from NFM pineapple leaves is more efficient at adsorbing less polar pesticides, which tend to be more fat-soluble than water-soluble.

An Efficient Natural Mechanism

According to test results, pesticide adsorption by NFMBC occurs through chemical interactions (not merely physical ones), meaning the pesticides bind strongly to the surface of the biochar. The adsorption process also occurs in multiple layers and varies depending on the structure of the pesticides and the surface characteristics of the biochar.

Another advantage of NFMBC is its ease of production, low cost, and utilization of agricultural waste that would otherwise have no value. As such, it offers a dual solution: reducing water pollution while addressing agricultural waste problems.

From Fields to a Cleaner Environment

The use of pineapple leaf waste to produce biochar is part of a "zero waste" approach and sustainable resource management. Not only is the fruit useful, but now every part of the pineapple plant can be fully utilized — from its fibers for textiles to its leaves for water purification.

By utilizing biochar made from local agricultural waste such as pineapple leaves, we can help solve two major problems at once: environmental pollution and the accumulation of organic waste.

Discover more about SAWA’s innovative biochar production and its impact on sustainable farming.

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