{
  "abstract": "The removal of synthetic dyes from industrial wastewater remains a major environmental challenge due to their persistence and toxicity. This study investigated starch nanocrystals (SNCs), a carbohydrate-based biological macromaterial, as a sustainable biosorbent for the continuous removal of malachite green (MG), methylene blue (MB), and crystal violet (CV) from single-, binary-, and ternary-component systems using fixed-bed column adsorption. Breakthrough behavior was evaluated using six models, including Thomas, Yoon–Nelson, Adams–Bohart, mass-transfer, dose–response, and bed-depth service time (BDST) models. Model performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R ² ) and normalized root mean square error (NRMSE). SNCs exhibited high adsorption affinity toward all three dyes under single-component conditions, with removal efficiencies of 70.87–71.88% and saturation capacities ranging from 5.16 to 5.44 mg/g. Competitive adsorption in binary and ternary systems reduced removal efficiency (59.24–73.01%), adsorption capacity (3.67–4.95 mg/g), and column service time (1772.73–1942.86 min) relative to single-component systems. However, the extent of performance reduction varied among different dye combinations, with systems containing MB and CV exhibiting less severe reductions than other mixed-dye systems, indicating composition-dependent competitive interactions rather than net synergistic effects. Among the evaluated models, the dose–response and BDST models provided the most accurate predictions across all adsorption systems (R ² > 0.99, NRMSE = 3.00–6.02%). The Thomas model also showed good fit quality (R ² = 98.78–99.46%) but exhibited variable NRMSE values (5.25–9.21%), with the highest errors observed in binary systems, indicating that its accuracy is system-dependent and its parameters have limited interpretability under competitive conditions. The Yoon–Nelson model showed moderate predictive capability (R ² = 97.92–99.15%, NRMSE = 6.10–12.51%), while the Adams–Bohart and mass-transfer models exhibited the highest NRMSE values (8.65–32.89% and 21.03–25.71%, respectively), indicating limited applicability under multicomponent conditions. A statistical regression framework incorporating dummy variables and interaction effects was developed to quantify the combined influence of adsorption time (quantitative variable) and system composition (qualitative variable: single-, binary-, and ternary-component systems) on breakthrough behavior. The model structure includes linear and quadratic time terms, categorical dummy variables representing different dye systems, and interaction terms (time × system composition) to account for composition-dependent adsorption kinetics. This framework successfully described competitive adsorption behavior and explained more than 98% of the variability in the experimental data (R ² = 98.02%, adjusted R ² = 97.72%, NRMSE = 0.053%), with the interaction terms revealing that the effect of adsorption time on breakthrough behavior was significantly modulated by system composition, particularly in mixed-dye systems containing MB and CV. The results demonstrate the potential of SNCs as environmentally friendly adsorbents for dye-contaminated wastewater and provide useful insights for the design and optimization of fixed-bed adsorption systems operating under realistic multicomponent conditions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Mehdi Bahrami",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9935-7899"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mohammad Javad Amiri"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zahra Rahsepar Chargi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mohammad Reza Mahmoudi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5wvd3g2k20rkm.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-76180-x",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "5wvd3g2k20rkm",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76180-x",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2312|Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223578340",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76180-x_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-25",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5wvd3g2k20rkm.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:34Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-76180-x",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76180-x"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "openalex:2312|Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal",
      "subfield": "hydrology-soils"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Continuous fixed-bed adsorption of cationic dyes by starch nanocrystals with breakthrough modeling of competitive interactions in multicomponent systems",
  "title_text": "Continuous fixed-bed adsorption of cationic dyes by starch nanocrystals with breakthrough modeling of competitive interactions in multicomponent systems",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:34Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5wvd3g2k20rkm",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}